The Borno State Government has stated that repentant terrorists undergoing rehabilitation and deradicalisation in the state are required to swear an oath with the Quran before being reintegrated into society, describing the process as a critical measure to discourage a return to insurgency.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, made this known during an interview with News Central Television on Monday while responding to concerns over the possibility of rehabilitated former insurgents returning to violent activities after completing the programme.
According to Gambo, the oath-taking ceremony forms the final stage of the Borno rehabilitation model and carries deep spiritual consequences for those involved.
“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.
The commissioner also dismissed fears that ex-fighters could easily rejoin terrorist groups in the bush, arguing that insurgents who surrender to authorities are usually viewed as traitors by their former allies.
“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 surrender to the constituted authority, you become an infidel,” Gambo stated.
She, however, noted that inadequate funding remains a major challenge facing the rehabilitation and reintegration programme in the state.
“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, clothe them and provide them with the necessary access to education?” she added.
