The Borno State Government has defended its controversial rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant terrorists, insisting that those who surrender and later return to terrorism face deadly consequences.
Speaking during an interview aired on Newscentral Television, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, revealed that repentant insurgents are made to swear an oath with the Quran before being reintegrated into society.
According to her, the oath-taking process forms a critical part of the state’s deradicalisation strategy.
She said, “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”
Dismissing fears that the ex-fighters could return to the battlefield, the commissioner issued a chilling warning.
“People assume that they will go back to the bush; well, they may, but they are dead on arrival. So, it is not even about whether they have been certified or we trust them or not. The law of the jungle takes care of that. The moment you step out, and you surrender to the constituted authority, you become an infidel,” she said.
Despite the government’s assurances, Gambo admitted that the programme is battling serious operational challenges, particularly inadequate funding.
“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, how are you going to clothe and provide for them with necessary access to education,” she stressed.
The comments come amid growing outrage over the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme, popularly known as Operation Safe Corridor.
On April 19, reports emerged that 744 former terrorists had completed the programme and were being prepared for reintegration into society. Out of the number, 597 beneficiaries were from Borno State, while others came from Adamawa, Yobe, Kano, and other states.
The development sparked nationwide debate, with many Nigerians questioning the transparency of the process and the implications for victims of insurgency.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, warned that reintegrating former terrorists without addressing the pains of victims could send the wrong signal.
He said, “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.”
Also reacting, Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, said the process lacks transparency despite international support for reintegration programmes.
Sanusi said, “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. Tell the people who these people are, what kind of terrorism they were involved in, and whether they were informants or killers. These things have to be made very clear.”
