Evaluating Operation Safe Corridor as a Strategy of Counter-Terrorism Policy in the North East of Nigeria

This paper evaluates Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), as a Nigerian counter-terrorism policy. Nigerian counter-terrorism policies have been criticised by scholars for its reliance on kinetic approaches, which is believed to have impinged on its effectiveness and efficiency. As a counter-terrorism policy, OPSC was introduced by federal government in September 2015 to provide demobilisation, de-radicalisation and reintegration routes to surrendering and repentant ex-Boko Haram combatants. Strategic Decision-Making Theory was applied as a theoretical framework. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data collection and analysis. The paper discovered that OPSC was introduced as non-kinetic counter-terrorism strategy as evidenced by 492(49.8%) of respondents. This paper concludes that OPSC has not directly helped in winning the hearts and minds of the general population in the terrorised/host communities as they have continued to stigmatise, and at most times, rejected the reintegration of ex-Boko-Haram combatants. The study, therefore, recommends restructuring of OPSC, to enable the operators differentiate those that surrendered willingly from those overwhelmed by hunger/starvation and the superior fire power of Nigerian counter-terrorist operators. To assuage the challenges faced with reintegration of the ex-Boko Haram militants, the research recommends amongst others, the prioritization of welfare of victims of Boko Haram attacks in terrorised communities.