Borno Returns 720 Former Terrorists, Families to Society After Rehabilitation

The Borno State Government has reintegrated 720 former insurgents, alongside 992 spouses and 2,050 children, into their communities after completing a deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme aimed at promoting lasting peace in the state.

The returnees, categorised as Batch 9 low-risk beneficiaries, had voluntarily surrendered to troops and participated in rehabilitation activities at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri before being approved for reintegration.

Addressing stakeholders at the ceremony, retired Brigadier General Abdullahi Ishaq, Special Adviser on Security to Governor Babagana Zulum, said the initiative continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of Borno’s strategy of combining security operations with reconciliation and rehabilitation.

“Their way back from the bush began with a call from their colleagues encouraging them to surrender, embrace peace and reunite with their parents,” he said.

Ishaq explained that after initial profiling by the military, the former insurgents underwent documentation, deradicalisation and vocational training programmes designed to prepare them for life after rehabilitation.

“The camps’ administrators kept them busy with various programmes geared towards deradicalisation and preparing them for life after camp,” he said.

He disclosed that participants were trained in skills such as carpentry, tailoring, cap making, vulcanising, solar installation, metalwork and phone repairs, while women were empowered through programmes in catering, knitting, tailoring and soap production.

According to him, the Borno Model has already reintegrated 8,960 beneficiaries in the first eight batches, bringing the total number of former insurgents successfully returned to society to 9,680.

Earlier, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development described the programme as a symbol of hope, reconciliation and recovery for communities affected by years of insurgency.

Representatives of security agencies, traditional leaders and religious institutions also urged the returnees to remain law-abiding and contribute positively to the development of their communities.

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