The Borno State government has reaffirmed its stance that the 160,000 repentant Boko Haram insurgents, having sworn by the Quran, are bound by their oath and are unlikely to revert to violence.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, stated that 70,000 of the ex-combatants have already been resettled and reintegrated into their communities, emphasizing the sanctity of their Quranic pledge.
Speaking at the public presentation of survivors and deradicalized women of Boko Haram, Gambo dispelled concerns of insurgents reneging on their repentance, asserting that the transparent process of reintegration ensures accountability.
“We subject each of them to proper oath-taking with the Holy Quran… No repentant Boko Haram dare renege on the oath because he or she knows what it means to swear with the Holy Quran and renege,” Gambo asserts.
Addressing the composition of the repentant insurgents, Gambo highlighted that the majority were originally farmers coerced into insurgency, portraying them as victims rather than hardened fighters.
While acknowledging the survivors’ demands, including rehabilitation and support, the state government pledges to address their needs comprehensively, in collaboration with various stakeholders.
