Borno Defends Reintegration Programme for Ex-Terrorists Amid Public Concerns
The Borno State Government has defended its rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former insurgents, insisting that strict deradicalisation measures are in place to discourage participants from returning to violent activities.
Speaking during a television interview, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said one of the final stages of the programme involves former fighters taking an oath using the Quran before being reintroduced into society.
According to her, the process is considered a serious commitment within the rehabilitation framework and is intended to strengthen accountability among participants after completing the programme.
Gambo explained that individuals who surrender and pass through the state’s rehabilitation system are made to understand the consequences of violating the oath or returning to insurgent groups.
She also acknowledged that funding remains one of the biggest challenges affecting the programme, citing the cost of feeding, housing, educating, and rehabilitating large numbers of participants.
The comments come amid renewed national debate over the Federal Government’s deradicalisation and reintegration initiative known as Operation Safe Corridor. Recently, hundreds of former insurgents completed the programme, with many expected to return to communities across affected states.
The development has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, human rights groups, and legal experts, with concerns raised over transparency, justice for victims, and the possibility of some rehabilitated individuals returning to extremist activities.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, questioned whether enough attention was being given to victims of insurgency, warning that reintegrating former fighters without proper accountability could deepen public resentment.
Similarly, Amnesty International called for greater openness in the rehabilitation process, urging authorities to provide more details about the backgrounds and roles of those being reintegrated into society.
Despite the concerns, the Borno State Government maintains that the programme remains an important part of efforts to restore peace and stability in communities affected by insurgency.
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