Repentant terrorists in Borno swear on the Quran to prevent relapse into extremism

The Borno State Government says former insurgents undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration are required to swear an oath on the Quran as part of efforts to ensure they do not return to terrorism.

Zuwaira Gambo disclosed this during an interview on News Central TV on Monday, amid ongoing public concerns about the possibility that rehabilitated fighters could rejoin extremist groups.

According to Gambo, the oath is the final stage of what the state describes as the “Borno model” for de-radicalisation 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.

The commissioner acknowledged fears that some former combatants could return to the bush, but said those who attempt to do so would face severe consequences.

“People assume that they will go back to the bush; well, they may, but they are dead on arrival,” she said.

Gambo also identified inadequate funding as one of the key challenges affecting the rehabilitation programme.

Her comments come weeks after 744 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism graduated from the federal government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration camp under Operation Safe Corridor.

The programme has drawn mixed reactions, with groups such as Amnesty International and the Nigerian Bar Association acknowledging the initiative while calling for greater transparency in its implementation.

Borno, the epicentre of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency, has been at the forefront of efforts to rehabilitate former fighters and reintegrate them into society as part of broader strategies to restore peace in the North-East.

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