Borno: Repentant terrorists swear with Quran before reintegration

The Borno State Government has defended its rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former terrorists, insisting that participants swear an oath with the Quran before returning to society.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said the process was designed to discourage repentant insurgents from returning to terrorism.

Gambo spoke during an interview with Newscentral Television aired on Monday amid growing public concerns over the reintegration of former fighters.

She explained that taking an oath with the holy book carried serious implications for those involved.

Gambo 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.”

The commissioner argued that insurgents who attempt to return to the bush after surrendering face rejection from terrorist groups.

Gambo said: “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.”

She added: “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.”

Despite defending the programme, the commissioner admitted that funding remained a major challenge.

Gambo said: “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.”

The comments come weeks after the graduation and planned reintegration of 744 former terrorists under the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme sparked public debate across the country.

The beneficiaries included 597 persons from Borno State, alongside others from Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and several states.

The development triggered concerns over transparency, accountability and the safety of communities receiving the former fighters.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, questioned the process and warned against ignoring victims of terrorism.

Also Read

• The Muslim 500: Sultan of Sokoto ranked among 2026 world’s most influential Muslims
• Sevilla coach demands big display from Akor Adams against Villarreal
• Teen sprinter targets double gold at African Championships
• Bishop hails Oyo for impacting metropolis, makes case for rural areas
• Again, gunmen attack Plateau community, kill two family members

Osigwe 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.”

Amnesty International Nigeria also raised concerns over the programme.

The Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the process lacked transparency despite international law supporting reintegration efforts.

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.”

He added: “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.”

Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp

[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']