The Federal Government has unveiled a new operational framework to strengthen the reintegration of former terrorists and other individuals involved in armed violence, as part of its broader strategy to address insecurity through both military and non-military measures.
The framework, known as the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, was introduced on Monday during a national validation workshop in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Adamu Laka, said the SOPs provide practical guidelines to improve the implementation of the DDR programme by enhancing accountability, transparency, and coordination among participating institutions.
According to Laka, the procedures were developed following extensive consultations with stakeholders and draw on Nigeria’s security realities as well as international best practices. He said they clearly define the responsibilities of relevant agencies, establish uniform implementation standards, and strengthen collaboration between security and civilian institutions.
Laka stressed that respect for human rights and the rule of law remains central to the initiative. While describing military operations as essential in degrading terrorist and criminal networks, he said lasting peace also requires credible opportunities for eligible individuals to renounce violence and reintegrate into society.
“While kinetic operations remain indispensable in degrading terrorist and criminal networks, lasting peace can only be achieved when complemented by credible pathways that facilitate the transition of eligible individuals away from violence and support their safe reintegration into society,” he said.
He added that consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones showed strong support for a nationally coordinated reintegration framework that reflects local realities and enjoys community ownership. Participants identified terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, organised crime, and separatist violence as key security challenges requiring a comprehensive response.
Also speaking, the Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the NCTC, Ambassador Abimbola Wońosikou, said the SOPs would provide a unified national approach to rehabilitation and reintegration programmes already operating in different parts of the country.
Representing the United Nations Department of Peace Operations’ DDR Section, Mario Nascimento welcomed the initiative, commending Nigeria for adapting its reintegration strategy to address evolving security threats while placing greater emphasis on supporting conflict-affected communities. He said successful reintegration requires the active participation of local communities, civil society organisations, government institutions, and the private sector.
The newly validated procedures are expected to guide federal agencies and pilot states, including Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara, as the government seeks to expand reintegration efforts and reduce the risk of former combatants returning to violence.
