Nigerians React as Repentant Terrorists Are Allegedly Made to Swear With the Quran After Rehabilitation in Borno.
A government program that rehabilitates former insurgents and returns them to society has sparked fresh debate online, especially over one particular requirement.
According to reports gathered by Toktok9ja Media, repentant terrorists go through a program called Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC). This initiative was started by the federal government back in 2016. It focuses on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Those in the program receive psychosocial support, vocational training, and ideological reorientation.
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But there is one step that happens just before they are released back into society. They are allegedly made to swear with the Quran that they will never return to terrorism.
A spokesperson for Operation Safe Corridor explained the process. “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.”
That statement has drawn different reactions from Nigerians across social media.
Some people do not agree with the program at all. Their main argument is simple. They say a person who has taken the lives of others should not be allowed back into the same society where victims’ families still live.
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One social media commentator raised a pointed question. “The Muslims say the terrorists are not Muslims but they swear with the Quran. Political office holders of both faiths swore with the holy texts when they assume office, has it ever stopped any of them from looting public funds!”
That comment struck a chord with many readers. Others joined in, asking whether an oath alone is enough when someone has already shown a willingness to commit serious crimes.
There are also those who support the program. They argue that many young men were misled into joining insurgency and deserve a second chance if they are genuinely willing to change. They point to the vocational training aspect of the program as a way to help former fighters become productive members of society.
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However, the louder voices online appear to be those against the idea. Many feel that justice has not been fully served, especially for families who lost loved ones to attacks over the years.
The debate remains ongoing. As of now, Operation Safe Corridor continues its work in Borno, and the oath-taking with the Quran is allegedly the final step before reintegration. Whether that is enough to reassure a worried public is a question that does not seem to have a clear answer yet.
Nigerians React as Repentant Terrorists Are Allegedly Made to Swear With the Quran After Rehabilitation in Borno.
