Abuja, Nigeria – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as misleading and distorted social media claims concerning remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, regarding the military’s deradicalization initiative, Operation SAFE CORRIDOR.
Okay News reports that the clarification was contained in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba. Uba stated that the viral narrative falsely portrayed the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as prioritizing leniency for terrorists over justice for victims, deliberately taking the CDS’s remarks out of context.
He clarified that Operation SAFE CORRIDOR is not an amnesty programme, but a structured initiative designed strictly for surrendered, screened, and low-risk former combatants. “The programme is part of a comprehensive counter-insurgency framework that integrates both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies,” Uba said.
Uba further explained that the CDS made the comments during a professional military doctrine lecture emphasizing global best practices that combine rehabilitation with sustained military operations. He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to neutralizing active terrorists, stating, “Any attempt to portray the remarks as sympathy for terrorists is a gross misinterpretation. Operation SAFE CORRIDOR addresses only those who have voluntarily disengaged from terrorism and have met strict profiling criteria.”
He concluded by noting that modern conflict management recognizes deradicalization as a critical tool in breaking cycles of violence, and warned that the selective framing of military communication ultimately undermines national security efforts.
