The National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Yusuf Ali, has revealed that more than 60% of terrorist and bandit foot soldiers in Nigeria are not motivated by ideology but are forced into involvement through coercion, abduction, or conflict pressures.

He said the finding highlights the need for a more targeted approach to deradicalisation, noting that a uniform strategy can no longer address the country’s complex security realities.

Ali explained that the programme is being expanded to include victims of violent extremism, with plans to establish rehabilitation and reintegration camps in regions heavily affected by conflict, particularly the North-Central and North-West.

He added that the initiative is evolving to focus on three key areas: improved screening and accountability, expansion of region-specific rehabilitation facilities, and a balanced approach that supports both disengaged fighters and affected communities.

Ali also clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme or a pathway into the armed forces, stressing that efforts are ongoing to correct public misconceptions and strengthen trust in the initiative.