Military Denies Claims of Arming Repentant Boko Haram Fighters

By Zainab Uzomah

Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) has dismissed claims circulating in a viral video alleging that repentant and active Boko Haram members are being armed to fight alongside the Nigerian military, describing the report as false and misleading. The programme clarified that it remains a non-combat initiative focused on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of former insurgents.

The Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Y. Ali, in a statement, said the claims were “entirely unfounded” and stressed that individuals undergoing the programme are neither armed nor deployed for combat operations. He explained that OPSC is a structured, multi-agency initiative under Defence Headquarters, designed strictly to rehabilitate carefully screened participants before handing them over to state authorities forreintegration.

The statement further clarified that the facility shown in the viral video is not the OPSC camp, noting that the officially designated rehabilitation centre is located in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, and operates under strict military control. It added that the individuals featured in the video, including a foreign blogger identified as Jones Raw, have no affiliation with the programme and have never been granted access to the facility.

OPSC also distinguished its operations from other state-led de-radicalisation initiatives, stating that such programmes are independent and not under the supervision of Defence Headquarters, and therefore do not fall within its framework.

The military noted that the programme continues to receive support from international partners, including the European Union, affirming its compliance with global standards and best practices. It warned that the spread of misinformation could undermine national security efforts and public confidence.

OPSC invited the originator of the claim and other credible observers to undertake a coordinated visit to its facility in Mallam Sidi to independently verify its operations, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and its role in supporting long-term peace and stability.