Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Brig.-Gen.Yusuf Ali has denied the claims that repentant Boko Haram terrorists, under the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Integration (DRR) programme, are being recruited by the military, armed, mobilised and deployed for combat operations.

He was reacting to a widely circulated video by a Danish blogger, Jones Raw, alleging that “repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists are being armed to fight alongside the Nigerian military,” insisting that the claim is false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.

Ali said the Danish blogger and the individuals who featured in the video “are not known to, nor have they ever been associated with, or granted access to the OPSC facility, rendering the claims not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading.”

He added: “For clarity, it is important to state that there are several state-led De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) initiatives across the country which operate independently and are not under the control or supervision of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) or Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

“Individuals processed through such state-level arrangements are not recognised as participants within the DHQ-led Operation Safe Corridor framework. This distinction is critical in addressing the misinformation being circulated.”

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

In a related development, Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned that anyone providing support or engaging in trade with bandits or terrorist groups will henceforth be treated as an insurgent.

He issued the warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna State, while reacting to the recent air strike by the military on Jilli market.

More than 100 civilians were reportedly killed, with several others injured, following the bombing.

“A friend of a thief is a thief, I’ve said that several times,” Musa said.

“Anybody that is doing any trading, any support to them, we find you together with them, we’re going to deal with you like the bandits, like the terrorists.

“So, people should know if you don’t want to be harmed, please avoid where those terrorists are and don’t give them any support,” he added.