The Borno State Government has reintegrated no fewer than 3,740 repentant members of Boko Haram into their communities, in what officials described as a major milestone in the state’s non-kinetic approach to tackling insurgency.
The reintegration, which took place on Friday in Maiduguri, involved 720 men, 992 spouses and 2,050 children who had surrendered to security forces and undergone deradicalisation, rehabilitation and vocational training.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq (retd.), said the exercise formed part of Batch 9 under the state’s reintegration programme targeting low-risk and minor participants in the insurgency.
He noted that the beneficiaries had been processed at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri, where they received psychological support, religious reorientation and skills training before being certified fit to return to society.
Ishaq described the programme as a “success story,” attributing its progress to the policy direction of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, which encourages insurgents to lay down arms and embrace peace.
According to him, since the initiative commenced on July 5, 2021, more than 350,000 individuals have voluntarily exited insurgent enclaves and surrendered to troops.
He said, “Today, the Borno Model is adjudged one of the most effective non-kinetic programmes, with thousands abandoning the insurgency to reunite with their families.
“These individuals were disarmed, demobilised, deradicalised and trained in various skills including carpentry, tailoring, metal works, solar installation, phone repairs and other trades to enable them rebuild their lives.”
He added that women among the group were also trained in catering, knitting, soap making and other vocational activities, while starter packs had been provided to support their reintegration.
Providing further breakdown, Ishaq disclosed that with the latest batch, the state had successfully reintegrated 9,680 former insurgents across nine phases of the programme.
He explained that the process involved initial profiling at military locations, followed by documentation and intensive rehabilitation at the camp, where participants were engaged in structured religious teachings, counselling and skills acquisition.
The security adviser also revealed that community leaders and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force screened the beneficiaries before recommending them for reintegration into their respective local government areas.
He urged the returnees to be law-abiding and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, represented by Permanent Secretary Babagana Kadai, described the exercise as a symbol of reconciliation and renewed hope for communities affected by insurgency.
She commended the state government’s commitment to rebuilding lives, noting that thousands of displaced persons had been resettled, while schools and healthcare facilities had been restored under the current administration.
Gambo said her ministry had played a key role in providing psychosocial support, family reunification services, child protection and empowerment programmes to ensure smooth reintegration.
She added, “This initiative reflects a strong commitment to peacebuilding, social cohesion and restoring dignity to victims of conflict.”
In separate goodwill messages, religious leaders, security agencies and government officials charged the rehabilitated individuals to uphold peace and respect constituted authorities as they return to their communities.
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