DHQ Denies Claims of Arming Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists for Combat Operations

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly dismissed claims circulating on social media that “repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists” are being armed to fight alongside Nigerian troops under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).

The military high command described the allegation as “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.” The claim originated from a video posted by a Danish vlogger, Jones Raw, which suggested that repentant terrorists were being integrated into combat roles.

Speaking through the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig-Gen Yusuf Ali, on Tuesday, the DHQ clarified that the facility shown in the video is not an OPSC De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) Camp. Ali explained that the officially designated OPSC facility is located in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, and operates as a secured and controlled military environment.

“The location shown in the video is clearly inconsistent with the OPSC facility, based on observable differences in structural design, layout, and operational setting,” he said. He further noted that the Danish blogger and the individuals featured in the video are not known to, nor have they ever been associated with or granted access to the OPSC facility. This, he said, renders the claims not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading.

Ali emphasised that Operation Safe Corridor is a strictly non-kinetic, multi-agency programme designed to facilitate the de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of carefully screened and profiled individuals. “At no point are participants armed, mobilized, or deployed for combat operations,” he stated.

Upon completion of the programme, participants are formally handed over to relevant state authorities for reintegration and remain within established monitoring frameworks. The programme, he added, continues to serve as a critical component of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy by reducing the pool of fighters, encouraging voluntary disengagement, and supporting long-term national stability.

The DHQ also highlighted that OPSC operates with the engagement and support of reputable international partners, including the European Union, underscoring the programme’s compliance with international standards, transparency, and adherence to global best practices. Brig-Gen Ali invited any interested and credible observers, including the author of the video, to visit the OPSC DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, “where the facts can be independently verified.”

The clarification comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military to counter misinformation about its counter-insurgency operations in the northeast. Operation Safe Corridor was established to encourage voluntary surrender and reintegration of Boko Haram members who wish to lay down their arms.

Since its inception in 2015, the programme has recorded the surrender of over 122,843 terrorists, according to previous DHQ figures. The military has consistently maintained that participants undergo thorough screening, de-radicalization, and rehabilitation processes before any reintegration into society, and they are never armed or used in combat roles.

This latest denial is expected to help clarify public understanding of the programme and counter narratives that could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.