N1.2 Billion for Rehab Camp, Billions More for “Repentant” Fighters — Yet Attacks Continue
The Federal Government paid N1.2 billion to the Gombe State Government after taking over the state’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp and converting it into a rehabilitation centre for former Boko Haram fighters. The facility was used under Operation Safe Corridor, a programme designed to deradicalise, rehabilitate, and reintegrate “repentant” insurgents back into society.
Payment records show the transaction was carried out on March 3, 2022, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, with the funds transferred into the Gombe State FAAC account. The payment, totalling N1,200,000,000, was described as compensation for the value of the existing NYSC camp occupied for the deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with official documentation referencing administrative approval AIE No. A01-00007803. The camp, originally meant for Nigerian graduates during their national service orientation, was selected and repurposed to serve as a key facility for the rehabilitation initiative.
Payment record showing N1.2 billion released by the Federal Government to Gombe State as compensation for the NYSC camp used for the rehabilitation of “repentant” Boko Haram fighters under Operation Safe Corridor
Beyond the Gombe compensation, more public funds have been channelled into reintegration efforts. A review of Borno State’s budget spending shows that about N7.7 billion was spent over a 21-month period on rehabilitating and reintegrating “repentant” Boko Haram members. The state reportedly spent N4.3 billion in 2025 alone on livelihood support for former fighters, with N1.6 billion of that amount released between October and December, reflecting a sharp increase in spending within just three months. This followed an earlier N3.45 billion disbursed between January and September 2024 under the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, bringing total expenditure during the period under review to roughly N7.7 billion.
Despite the heavy spending, violence has continued in parts of the region. On the evening of March 16, 2026, Maiduguri was thrown into chaos when three suicide bombers detonated improvised explosive devices at separate locations across the city, including the Monday Market, the Post Office Flyover area, and near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital gate. Witnesses described panic as explosions struck crowded areas, forcing people to flee in all directions while emergency responders rushed to the scene. Twenty-three people were confirmed dead and 108 others sustained injuries ranging from minor wounds to life-threatening trauma. Hospitals across the city were overwhelmed as medical personnel worked through the night to stabilise victims.
The Borno State Police Command later confirmed the casualty figures and said investigations were ongoing to determine those responsible. The situation has sparked fresh debate, as billions continue to be spent on rehabilitating former fighters while deadly attacks and insecurity persist, leaving many Nigerians questioning whether the current strategy is achieving its intended results.
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