Beyond Surrender: Assessing the Effectiveness of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) in Promoting Sustainable Peace and Development in Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Nigeria's flagship non-military initiative, was established to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram combatants as a peace-building strategy in North-East Nigeria. However, persistent concerns regarding justice, transparency, and community acceptance have raised questions about its long-term effectiveness. This paper assesses the outcomes, challenges, and prospects of OPSC in promoting sustainable peace and development. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with forty-five key stakeholders across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States and analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that while OPSC facilitated mass defections and symbolised a shift toward human-centred peace-building, its overall impact on durable peace remains limited. Weak institutional coordination, inadequate funding, unreliable data systems, and minimal community participation undermined its effectiveness. Additionally, the absence of justice mechanisms for victims and the informal reintegration of unvetted returnees heightened risks of mistrust and potential re-radicalisation. The study concludes that although OPSC contributed to reducing active insurgency, it has yet to achieve sustainable reintegration or meaningful social healing. It contributes to knowledge by providing empirical insights into the program's implementation and local perceptions, emphasising the need for restorative justice mechanisms, community-driven reintegration processes, transparent data management systems, and strengthened institutional collaboration to ensure lasting peace and reconciliation in North-East Nigeria.