THE Borno State government has said repentant terrorists undergoing its rehabilitation and reintegration programme are required to swear an oath with the Quran as part of measures aimed at preventing them from returning to insurgency.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, disclosed this during an interview aired on News Central Television on Monday while responding to concerns that former insurgents reintegrated into communities could return to terrorism.
According to her, the oath-taking process represents the final stage of the Borno model of deradicalisation and reintegration.
“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.
Gambo acknowledged that many Nigerians remain sceptical about the programme, expressing fears that some former fighters could return to terrorist groups after reintegration.
However, she argued that such fears are exaggerated.
“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 commissioner stated.
She also identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges confronting the programme.
According to her, the authorities are burdened with the responsibility of providing food, clothing, education, and other welfare needs for thousands of individuals undergoing rehabilitation.
Also speaking during the interview, Abdullahi Ishaq, Special Adviser on Security Affairs to Governor Babagana Zulum, disclosed that more than 300,000 people, including farmers, women, and children, have surrendered during the insurgency.
He added that 8,950 individuals have so far been rehabilitated and reintegrated in eight batches through the state government’s programme.
Ishaq said the rehabilitation initiative remains a critical part of efforts to restore peace and stability in the state after years of insurgency.
In February 2026, no fewer than 117 repentant terrorists completed the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor in Borno State.
The former insurgents underwent the rehabilitation process at the Malam Sidi Camp.