By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
The Borno State Government has defended the reintegration of repentant terrorists into society, insisting that those who complete the state’s deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme are unlikely to return to terrorism.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said a measures were put in place to ensure that former insurgents abandon violent extremism permanently, including taking an oath with the Quran at the end of the programme.
Speaking during an interview aired on News Central Television on Monday, Gambo said the oath carries serious spiritual consequences for anyone who violates it.
“When they come to us through all the processes of the Borno model, the last thing they do is take an oath with the Quran. Once you swear by the Quran, you know the implication,” she said.
Addressing fears that some ex-fighters may return to insurgency, the commissioner maintained that such individuals would face rejection from terrorist groups.
“People assume that they will go back to the bush; well, they may, but they are dead on arrival. The moment you step out and surrender to constituted authority, you become an infidel,” she added.
Despite defending the programme, Gambo admitted that inadequate funding remains a major challenge affecting rehabilitation efforts.
“The challenge, of course, has to do with funding, because you bring a lot of people on board, but how are you going to feed them, clothe them and provide them with access to education?” she said.
Her comments come amid growing public debate over the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme following the graduation and planned reintegration of 744 former terrorists.
The beneficiaries, drawn mainly from conflict-affected states, included 597 from Borno State, while others came from Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and several other states.
The development has sparked widespread concerns over transparency, accountability and justice for victims of insurgency.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, warned that reintegrating former fighters without addressing the suffering of victims could deepen public resentment.
“Reintegrating persons who may have unleashed violence or burned properties into communities without addressing the hurt of victims would appear as compensating perpetrators while overlooking the victims,” he said.
Also reacting, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said while international law supports reintegration for those who surrender, Nigeria’s process lacked transparency.
“There are serious concerns that some of those called repentant sometimes go back to what they do. The government must be transparent about who they are and their level of involvement,” Sanusi said.
He called on authorities to disclose details about the former insurgents, including the roles they played during the conflict.
“These things have to be made very clear,” he added.
