The Borno State Government says repentant insurgents who complete its rehabilitation programme are required to swear an oath with the Quran as the final step before being reintegrated into society.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, disclosed this during an interview on News Central Television on Monday. She explained that the oath-taking is the last phase of the Borno model, the state’s framework for deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former fighters.

“When they come to us through all the processes of the Borno model, the last thing they do is, they take an oath with the Quran. Once you swear by the Quran, you know the implication,” Gambo said.

She stated that the religious oath serves as a key safeguard to discourage beneficiaries from returning to violence. According to her, former insurgents who surrender and later attempt to return to the bush are viewed as traitors by terrorist groups and are unlikely to survive.

“People assume that they will go back to the bush; well, they may, but they are dead on arrival. The moment you step out and surrender to constituted authority, you become an infidel,” she said.

Gambo also noted that inadequate funding remains a major challenge for the programme. She said providing food, clothing, education, and welfare support for thousands of participants puts pressure on state resources.

The Borno model has been defended by state officials as necessary for promoting peace and stability in communities affected by insurgency in the North-East.