Security: Gombe Deputy Governor Meets New Operation Safe Corridor Commandant

The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting strategic security interventions aimed at countering terrorism and restoring lasting peace in the North and Nigeria in general.

The Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, restated this when he received the newly posted Commandant of Operation Safe Corridor, Col. Mohammed Danjuma Bello, during a courtesy visit to his office in Gombe.

The Deputy Governor described the responsibility of managing repentant insurgents as both delicate and demanding, requiring not only professionalism and vigilance but also empathy and long-term commitment.

He stressed that the success of such programmes is central to breaking cycles of violence and preventing the resurgence of extremist ideologies.

“Operation Safe Corridor represents a vital non-kinetic approach in our collective fight against insurgency. It offers a pathway to peace by transforming former combatants into responsible citizens, thereby reducing the risk of recidivism and strengthening community resilience,” Jatau stated.

He reiterated that Gombe State remains a committed partner in this national assignment, recalling the state’s strategic decision to donate the facility currently serving as the rehabilitation camp, formerly a National Youth Service Corps orientation camp, to support the initiative. According to him, the relocation of the NYSC camp to a technical school in Amada, though challenging and disruptive to academic activities, was a necessary sacrifice in the overriding interest of national security and stability.

Dr. Jatau further emphasized that sustainable peace in the North cannot be achieved through military action alone, but must be complemented by well-structured rehabilitation and reintegration programmes that address ideological reorientation, skills acquisition and social inclusion.

He commended the leadership of Operation Safe Corridor for embedding vocational training components such as fabrication, fishery, poultry and other livelihood programmes into its framework, noting that economic empowerment is a critical pillar in preventing relapse into criminality.

These initiatives, he added, not only provide dignified means of livelihood for beneficiaries but also contribute to local economic development.

Reaffirming the state government’s position, the Deputy Governor assured that Gombe would continue to support policies and partnerships that promote peacebuilding, social stability, and inclusive development.

In his remarks, the Commandant of Operation Safe Corridor, Mohammed Danjuma Bello, expressed appreciation to the Gombe State Government for its consistent support and leadership in advancing the objectives of the programme.

He described Operation Safe Corridor as a flagship programme of the Federal Government, designed to implement a comprehensive Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) framework for repentant insurgents.

According to him, the programme is structured to address both the psychological and socio-economic dimensions of extremism, ultimately transforming ex-combatants into productive members of society.

Col. Bello explained that the operation operates as a multi-agency platform, bringing together personnel from the Nigerian Armed Forces, security agencies, and relevant government institutions to ensure a holistic and coordinated response to the complexities of deradicalization.

He noted that his visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the state government, deepening existing partnerships, and identifying areas requiring enhanced support to improve operational effectiveness.

The Commandant called for sustained cooperation from all stakeholders, emphasizing that the fight against terrorism is a shared responsibility that demands unity, trust, and long-term commitment.