Borno Reintegrates 720 Rehabilitated Ex-Insurgents into Local Communities

The Borno State Government has officially reintegrated 720 former insurgents back into society after they completed a structured deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration framework.

The graduating group, identified as low-risk and minor participants, comprises Batch 9 of the state’s specialized rehabilitation initiative. To mark the transition back into civilian life, the individuals took an oath of citizenship using the Holy Quran during a ceremony held at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri on Friday.

Brigadier General Ishaq Abdullahi (retd.), the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Babagana Zulum, described the exercise as a milestone for the region’s non-kinetic approach to counter-insurgency.

According to Abdullahi, since the inception of the program in July 2021, more than 350,000 individuals linked to insurgent factions have voluntarily surrendered to military authorities. The successful completion of Batch 9 brings the total number of fully processed and reintegrated individuals under this specific initiative to 9,680, alongside 992 spouses and 2,050 children.

The multi-stage rehabilitation process begins with profiling and disarmament at designated military locations upon voluntary surrender. While in the processing camps, participants undergo a schedule combining behavioral counseling, drug abuse awareness, hygiene education, and religious instruction. Additionally, the program provides vocational training in fields such as solar installation, tailoring, metalworks, carpentry, phone repair, and masonry.

To ensure community safety and promote acceptance, local leaders, hunters, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) screen participants before approving their return to home regions.

The state government also provides vocational starter packs to help the individuals launch micro-enterprises. The current graduates are scheduled to return to various local government areas across Borno, including Bama, Gwoza, Dikwa, Kukawa, and Damboa.