The Borno State Government has allayed fears that many repentant terrorists reintegrated into society after the rehabilitation and deradicalisation programme will go back into terrorism, stating that a key part of the programme is swearing by the Quran, a strategy considered strong enough to prevent them from taking up arms again.
The state Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, stated this in an interview with Newscentral television, aired on Monday, saying that taking an oath with the holy book without adhering to it has implications.
“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.
“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 added.
The commissioner highlighted that key challenges, including funding, have been affecting the smooth running of the programme, as bringing many people on board requires feeding, clothing, and providing them with necessary access to education.
The development has triggered widespread debate over transparency, accountability, and the impact of reintegration on victims of violent extremism. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association said the policy, though not inherently bad, raised serious concerns over secrecy and lack of oversight. The Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria said while international law supports the reintegration of those who surrender, the Nigerian process lacked transparency, and the government must be transparent about who these people are and what kind of terrorism they were involved in.
