Over 300 Former Terrorists Now In Govt Rehab – Federal Government Reveals

The Federal Government has disclosed that more than 300 repentant terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation as part of its non-kinetic approach to combating terrorism.

The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major-General Adamu Laka, made this known on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders and donors meeting on promoting livelihood and agricultural opportunities for ex-combatants and communities affected by conflict, Punch reported.

Laka explained that the initiative is part of the government’s ongoing deradicalisation and reintegration efforts under Operation Safe Corridor. He revealed that over 2,600 former fighters have already graduated from the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State, where they received psychosocial support, vocational training, and reintegration assistance.

The 300 individuals currently in rehabilitation, according to Laka, are among those who voluntarily surrendered in recent months, particularly from Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions.

“Operation Safe Corridor has so far graduated over 2,600 low-risk ex-combatants. Currently, there are over 300 clients in the camp undergoing the process,” he said. “A growing number of terrorists and bandits are now expressing willingness to surrender in the North West and North Central. Plans are underway to develop similar Disarmament, Deradicalisation, and Reintegration programmes tailored to those regions.”

Laka, however, warned that many repentant terrorists face limited opportunities after reintegration, which could undermine the gains of the rehabilitation process.

“One of the key lessons from past DDR programmes is the urgent need for sustainable economic reintegration pathways. Many face uncertainty and lack opportunities after reintegration, threatening the progress we’ve made,” he noted.

To address this, Laka announced a new agribusiness and livelihood project in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The initiative will provide access to land, inputs, training, mentorship, and market linkages, targeting not only repentant terrorists but also widows and members of conflict-affected communities.

Six states have already shown interest in hosting the programme, which Laka says will help rebuild lives, restore livelihoods, and prevent the resurgence of extremist ideologies.