The Borno State Government has defended the reintegration of former terrorists into society, insisting that those who pass through the rehabilitation process are made to swear with the Quran before being accepted back into communities.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, disclosed this during an interview aired on Monday, saying the oath-taking process is a major part of the state’s deradicalisation programme.
According to her, repentant fighters understand the spiritual consequences of violating such an oath after surrendering to authorities.
“When they complete the Borno rehabilitation model, the last stage is swearing with the Quran. Once you swear with the Quran, you know the implication,” she said.
Gambo added that fears about ex-terrorists returning to the bush were understandable, but claimed those who attempt to return to terrorism after surrendering are often treated as enemies by their former groups.
“People think they may go back to the bush, but once they surrender, they are seen as infidels by those groups,” she stated.
She, however, admitted that funding remains one of the major challenges facing the rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
“You have to feed them, clothe them, and also provide access to education and other support services,” the commissioner explained.
The comments come amid public outrage over the recent graduation and planned reintegration of 744 former terrorists under the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme.
The development has continued to generate criticism from rights groups and legal experts, who questioned the transparency of the process and raised concerns about justice for victims of terrorism.
The Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe, warned that reintegrating former fighters without addressing the pain of victims could appear unfair to affected communities.
Similarly, Amnesty International Nigeria called on the government to disclose the identities and specific roles played by those being rehabilitated.
