Borno State Government has defended its rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former Boko Haram members, revealing that repentant insurgents are required to swear an oath on the Quran before being returned to their communities.
The disclosure was made by the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, who said the oath-taking process forms a key part of the deradicalisation programme aimed at preventing former fighters from returning to violent activities.
According to Gambo, participants who complete the rehabilitation process undergo a final stage in which they swear on the Quran to renounce terrorism and violence before reintegration into society.
Her comments come amid ongoing public debate over the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme, which recently graduated hundreds of former insurgents for reintegration.
The programme has attracted criticism from some stakeholders, including human rights advocates and community leaders, who have raised concerns about transparency, accountability and the safety of host communities.
While the Borno State Government insists the programme is helping to promote peace and stability in the North-East, critics continue to question whether former insurgents can be effectively monitored after their return to society.
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