Bandits: I Visited Their Camp in Gombe; Some Told Me ‘Even if You Jail Me, I Will Still Return -John Enenche

Retired Major General and former Defence spokesperson, John Enenche, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former terrorists, revealing that some participants openly expressed their intention to return to insurgent activities.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on June 3, 2026, Enenche said his personal experience assessing former insurgents in rehabilitation camps left him doubtful about the effectiveness of the current approach.

The retired military officer recounted being part of an assessment team that visited camps housing former terrorists in locations including Gombe. According to him, some of the individuals undergoing rehabilitation admitted they remained committed to their former causes despite being enrolled in government-backed deradicalisation programmes.

“I was part of a team that visited their camps in Gombe and elsewhere to assess them. Some told me: ‘Even if you take me to prison and bring me out, I am still going back to join them,’” Enenche said.

His remarks came as he discussed the merits and shortcomings of rehabilitation initiatives designed to reintegrate repentant terrorists and bandits into society. While acknowledging that rehabilitation and reintegration are recognised international practices, Enenche argued that Nigeria must critically evaluate whether such programmes are achieving their intended objectives.

The former Defence spokesperson suggested that authorities should reconsider existing approaches where evidence indicates that participants remain committed to violent extremism. He maintained that individuals who continue to pose security threats should not be treated as genuinely reformed simply because they have entered rehabilitation programmes.

Enenche’s comments add to the broader national debate over the effectiveness of initiatives such as Operation Safe Corridor, which was established to deradicalise and reintegrate former insurgents who surrender to security forces.

His intervention comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity across several parts of the country, with kidnappings, bandit attacks and insurgent violence continuing to challenge security agencies despite ongoing military operations.