Borno State Reintegrates 720 Repentant Insurgents After Completing Rehabilitation Programme

The Borno State Government has reintegrated 720 repentant insurgents into society after they successfully completed a deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme.

The beneficiaries, described as low-risk participants and forming Batch 9 of the state’s initiative, were sworn in and officially released to return to their various communities across Borno State.

According to the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, Brig. Gen. Ishaq Abdullahi (retd.), the exercise marks another milestone in the state’s non-kinetic approach to tackling insurgency in the North-East.

He noted that the programme, which began in July 2021 under Governor Zulum, has recorded significant participation from former fighters who voluntarily surrendered to security forces in exchange for peace.

Abdullahi added that with the latest batch, the total number of reintegrated persons has risen to 9,680, including spouses and children linked to former insurgents.

He explained that participants underwent structured rehabilitation involving Islamic teachings, counselling, hygiene education, drug abuse awareness, and vocational training in various skills such as carpentry, tailoring, metal works, phone repairs, and solar installation.

The state government also provided starter packs to support their return to civilian life, while community leaders and security groups screened beneficiaries before approval.