The Borno State Government says it has recorded significant progress in the reintegration of former Boko Haram insurgents and their families, with about 8,000 persons already integrated into society under its rehabilitation programme.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, disclosed this in Maiduguri on Saturday while speaking on the progress and challenges of the state’s de-radicalisation and reintegration efforts.
Gambo said the initiative, driven by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has achieved about 75 per cent success, describing it as a key component of ongoing peace-building and recovery efforts in the North-East.
According to her, the large-scale surrender of insurgents and their families created a major humanitarian responsibility for the state government, prompting the establishment of structured rehabilitation programmes.
She explained that many of those who surrendered were not frontline fighters but individuals who provided logistical and support roles within insurgent networks.
Gambo noted that the majority of those received were women and children, many of whom arrived with trauma, health challenges, and limited exposure to formal society.
“These are women coming out with trauma, gender-based violence experiences, and psychosocial challenges,” she said.
She added that some of the children had never lived in structured communities or seen modern infrastructure before their arrival at rehabilitation centres.
The commissioner said the state government responded by deploying social workers and setting up temporary learning centres, healthcare facilities, and skills acquisition programmes to support rehabilitation.
She also dismissed claims that rehabilitated persons were returning to insurgent groups, saying those who surrender are often rejected by the same networks they left behind
