The government of Borno State says former insurgents undergoing rehabilitation are required to swear an oath on the Quran as part of efforts to prevent a return to armed violence.
Zuwaira Gambo, the state commissioner for women affairs and social development, disclosed the measure during an interview aired on News Central Television on Monday while addressing public concerns over the reintegration of ex-fighters into local communities.
According to Gambo, the oath forms part of a broader deradicalisation and rehabilitation framework designed to ensure that repentant terrorists abandon insurgency permanently before being reintegrated into society.
The comments come amid ongoing debate in Nigeria over the effectiveness and risks of rehabilitation programmes targeting former members of armed groups operating in the country’s northeast.
Critics have repeatedly questioned whether reintegrated ex-insurgents could return to extremist activities, especially in communities still grappling with the long-term effects of conflict. Authorities in Borno, however, insist the programme includes strict monitoring, counselling, and religious commitments aimed at fostering accountability and peaceful coexistence.
