Retired Major General John Enenche, a former spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, has expressed serious reservations about the country’s rehabilitation and reintegration framework for ex-insurgents, warning that some of the individuals undergoing deradicalisation may still be committed to returning to violent groups.
Enenche made the remarks during an interview aired on Channels Television on June 3, 2026, where he reflected on his firsthand involvement in assessments of rehabilitation programmes designed for former terrorists and bandits who have surrendered to security forces.
He explained that he was once part of an official team assigned to inspect rehabilitation facilities in different parts of the country, including camps located in Gombe State.
According to him, the experience raised fundamental questions about the sincerity and long-term effectiveness of some participants in the programme.
The retired military officer said that during interactions with some of the individuals undergoing rehabilitation, he encountered open declarations suggesting that their participation in the deradicalisation process had not changed their ideological stance.
He recalled that some of them allegedly admitted they still intended to return to insurgent activities once given the opportunity, despite being enrolled in government-backed reintegration efforts.
In his words, Enenche described a situation in which some participants were reported to have said that even if they were arrested, imprisoned, and later released, they would still go back to join insurgent groups.
He used the account to illustrate what he sees as a major challenge facing the rehabilitation programme.
While acknowledging that rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives are widely recognised globally as part of conflict resolution strategies, Enenche stressed that Nigeria must critically evaluate whether its own implementation is achieving meaningful results.
He argued that the presence of individuals who remain ideologically committed to violent extremism raises questions about whether such programmes are sufficiently rigorous or effective.
He further suggested that authorities should reconsider the continued inclusion of individuals who demonstrate clear signs of unwillingness to renounce insurgent ideology.
According to him, the assumption that all participants in rehabilitation programmes are reformed may not always reflect reality, especially if some openly express intent to return to violence….Discover More
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