“Once You Swear by the Quran, You Know the Implication” — Borno Defends Reintegration of Repentant Terrorists

The Borno State Government says former insurgents who complete its rehabilitation and deradicalisation programme are required to swear an oath with the Quran before returning to society, describing the process as a safeguard against a return to violence.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, spoke during an interview aired on Monday by News Central Television.

According to her, oath-taking is the final stage of what the government describes as the “Borno model” of rehabilitation.

“When they come to us through all the processes of the Borno model, the last thing they do is, they take an oath with the Quran. Once you swear by the Quran, you know the implication,” she said.

Gambo said concerns that rehabilitated fighters could return to insurgency remain understandable but argued that those who rejoin armed groups would face rejection from insurgents themselves.

“People assume that they will go back to the bush; well, they may, but they are dead on arrival,” she said. “The moment you step out and surrender to constituted authority, you become an infidel.”

She also identified funding as a major challenge affecting the programme, citing the cost of feeding, housing, clothing and educating participants.

“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.

The comments come weeks after the graduation and planned reintegration of 744 former insurgents under the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme drew criticism from rights groups and legal stakeholders.

Of the beneficiaries, 597 were from Borno State, while others came from Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and other states.

The programme has generated debate over transparency, accountability and the impact of reintegration on communities affected by insurgency.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, said reintegration efforts must also address the concerns of victims.

“Reintegrating persons who may have unleashed violence or burned properties or committed other criminal activities into communities without addressing the hurt of the victims would appear as compensating perpetrators while overlooking the victims,” he said.

The Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, also called for greater transparency in the process.

He said the government should disclose the level of involvement of those being rehabilitated and clarify whether they served as informants, fighters or were directly involved in killings.