Army Rebuts Viral Claim, Insists No “Repentant Boko Haram Fighters” Are Armed Under Safe Corridor Programme
In an era where misinformation spreads faster than facts, Nigeria’s military authorities have moved swiftly to debunk a viral claim threatening to erode public trust in the country’s counterterrorism strategy.
The Nigerian military, through Operation SAFE CORRIDOR (OPSC), has firmly denied allegations circulating in a widely shared video suggesting that “repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists” are being armed to fight alongside troops.
The Coordinator of OPSC, Brigadier General Y. Ali, described the claim as false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.
According to the statement issued on 14 April 2026, the programme remains a strictly non-kinetic initiative focused on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former insurgents who have voluntarily surrendered and undergone thorough screening.
Ali clarified that the facility shown in the viral footage is not the official OPSC camp. He explained that the designated rehabilitation centre is located in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, and operates under strict military control.
The individuals featured in the video, including a Danish blogger identified as Jones Raw, have no known affiliation with the programme and were never granted access to the facility.
The military further distinguished OPSC from other state-led rehabilitation initiatives across Nigeria, noting that such programmes operate independently and are not under the control of Defence Headquarters. Participants in those arrangements,
it stressed, are not recognised within the OPSC framework.
Reassuring Nigerians, the military emphasised that at no point are participants in the Safe Corridor programme armed or deployed for combat.
Instead, upon completion, they are handed over to state authorities and monitored within established reintegration systems.
The statement also highlighted the involvement of international partners, including the European Union, as evidence of the programme’s transparency and adherence to global best practices.
In a bid to counter the damaging narrative, OPSC has invited the originator of the claim and credible observers to undertake a guided visit to the Mallam Sidi facility to independently verify its operations.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and the use of non-kinetic strategies to reduce insurgency and promote long-term national stability.
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