Tinubu promises transparent reporting on rehabilitation programme for former terrorists

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to introduce standardised and verifiable reporting on former combatants who surrender to Nigerian authorities and undergo rehabilitation and reintegration.

This is contained in the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s 2027–2031 manifesto, which outlines the president’s security agenda if re-elected for a second term.

Mr Tinubu is seeking re-election as his first term draws to a close, following the introduction of policies that have worsened economic hardship and crippled local economies, amid the effects of global geopolitical conflicts and escalating internal security threats.

Mr Tinubu is expected to face a strong challenge from opposition figures, particularly former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who finished second and third, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election.

However, efforts by opposition parties to unite behind a common candidate have been hampered by disagreements over party leadership and the choice of a presidential flagbearer. The divisions have also triggered internal disputes and legal battles, including a recent Federal High Court judgment nullifying the process that produced the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, under which Atiku is seeking the party’s presidential ticket.

The David Mark-led faction has rejected the judgment and vowed to appeal, while the rival faction led by Nafiu Gombe has welcomed the ruling. The dispute has added to the uncertainty surrounding the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 election.

The 109-page manifesto, released on Tuesday, also promises to strengthen existing surrender and rehabilitation frameworks and expand deradicalisation, trauma support and peace-building programmes.

It said the administration would strengthen the frameworks through “standardised, verifiable reporting on all screened, reintegrated, and prosecuted ex-combatants.”

The pledge comes amid continuing public debate over the government’s approach to former terrorists, particularly concerns about the reintegration of people associated with armed groups into communities affected by years of violence.

One of the government’s major initiatives in this regard is Operation Safe Corridor, established in 2016 to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram members who surrender and are assessed as eligible for the programme.

The initiative provides participants with psychological support, religious reorientation and vocational training, among other interventions, to prepare them for a return to civilian life.

However, the programme has attracted public criticism, particularly from some communities and victims of insurgency, who have questioned the reintegration of former fighters while survivors continue to grapple with displacement, trauma and the loss of loved ones.

The military has maintained that the programme is not an amnesty arrangement and is intended for individuals assessed as low-risk. Those considered to have committed serious offences are expected to face the appropriate legal processes.

In an interview published in April 2026, Yuauf Ali, the national coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, said the programme was strengthening its screening procedures and monitoring mechanisms to address concerns about its credibility.

The coordinator also said the government was expanding rehabilitation infrastructure beyond the North-east, including facilities intended to address security challenges in the North-west and North-central regions.

The APC manifesto does not provide details on how the proposed reporting system would operate or which government agency would be responsible for publishing the information.

Beyond the rehabilitation of former insurgents, the manifesto promises to expand trauma support, deradicalisation and peace-building programmes to support communities affected by insurgency.

It also pledges to facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons to their communities as part of efforts to restore normalcy in conflict-affected areas.

Nigeria’s problematic deradicalisation programmes

Nigeria operates several deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes, including initiatives managed by state governments. One prominent example is the Borno Model, introduced by the Borno State Government in 2021 to manage the mass surrender of Boko Haram members and their associates.

However, the programme has faced criticism over alleged weaknesses in screening, inadequate monitoring of beneficiaries after their release and concerns about whether it sufficiently addresses extremist indoctrination.

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These concerns were heightened in September 2024, when 13 former Boko Haram fighters who had been integrated into military operations in Borno reportedly escaped from their camp in Mafa with rifles and motorcycles provided for counter-insurgency operations. A report by PREMIUM TIMES, citing security researcher Malik Samuel, said eight of the men escaped on 1 September and five others the following day. The Borno State Government, however, disputed the account, saying six former insurgents had escaped but denied that they took government-issued weapons.

Researchers have also questioned the limited economic support provided to former insurgents and the lack of systematic follow-up after their release. They warn that these shortcomings could undermine reintegration efforts and alienate victims and communities that suffered years of violence, particularly when former insurgents receive assistance while survivors continue to grapple with the consequences of the conflict.