The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that repentant terrorists accused of serious crimes will not escape justice despite participating in the country’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) program.
The government gave the assurance on Monday as it launched new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) designed to strengthen the implementation of the DDR program, improve transparency and ensure that offenders are held accountable under the law.
The guidelines were unveiled during a national validation workshop held in Abuja. The event also approved state-level SOPs for Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states, three of the areas most affected by terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent conflict.
The Federal Government said the new procedures would provide a clear framework for the management of former fighters who voluntarily surrender, while ensuring that those accused of grave offences are prosecuted through the appropriate legal channels.
Speaking at the workshop, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said the SOPs were developed after extensive consultations across the country and were based on Nigeria’s security experience, international best practices and the realities on the ground.
According to him, the new guidelines clearly define the responsibilities of government institutions involved in the DDR program, strengthen cooperation among security and civil agencies and promote respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Laka explained that the procedures are expected to improve coordination among agencies responsible for receiving, profiling, rehabilitating and reintegrating former fighters who renounce violence.
He stressed that military operations alone cannot permanently end terrorism and violent extremism, adding that non-military measures remain an important part of Nigeria’s overall security strategy.
“The DDR program is a critical aspect of Nigeria’s non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity,” he said.
He noted that consultations held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones showed strong public support for a nationally coordinated and community-driven reintegration framework.
According to him, participants identified terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, organised crime and separatist violence as the major security threats facing the country.
He said addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that combines security operations with rehabilitation, reconciliation and community participation.
Also speaking, the Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the NCTC, Abimbola Wońosikou, said the new procedures were designed to create a more effective and coordinated national response to terrorism and armed violence.
She disclosed that state DDR committees have already been established in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara to oversee implementation of the programme.
According to her, the committees include representatives of state governments, security agencies, justice institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women’s organisations, youth groups, civil society organisations and technical institutions.
She explained that involving different stakeholders would help build trust, improve coordination and ensure that reintegration efforts receive community support.
Wońosikou said the SOPs provide detailed guidance on institutional responsibilities, case management, information sharing, community engagement, human rights protection, monitoring, evaluation and coordination among agencies.
However, she stressed that the programme does not grant immunity to those responsible for serious crimes.
“Those accused of serious crimes would still face prosecution through the appropriate legal processes,” she said.
Her clarification is expected to address public concerns that some former terrorists might avoid prosecution simply by surrendering and joining rehabilitation programmes.
In recent years, the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating repentant terrorists has generated mixed reactions.
While security experts have argued that rehabilitation encourages more fighters to surrender and helps weaken terrorist groups, many victims of terrorism and some civil society organisations have questioned whether those responsible for killings and other atrocities should be allowed to return to society.
The government has repeatedly maintained that the DDR programme is intended to reduce violence, gather intelligence and encourage defections from terrorist groups, while ensuring that justice is served where necessary.
Wońosikou also called for improved public communication on the programme, saying misinformation and misunderstanding have contributed to public scepticism.
She urged government agencies and stakeholders to provide accurate information about how the programme works and the safeguards put in place to protect communities.
Representing the United Nations Department of Peace Operations’ DDR Section, Mario Nascimento commended Nigeria for strengthening its reintegration strategy.
He said the country’s approach now goes beyond focusing only on former fighters by placing greater emphasis on rebuilding communities affected by conflict.
“No individual can be successfully reintegrated in isolation,” Nascimento said.
He explained that successful reintegration depends on the active participation of host communities, civil society organisations, local authorities, traditional institutions and the private sector.
According to him, communities play a critical role in accepting former fighters, reducing stigma and creating opportunities that discourage a return to violence.
He added that sustainable peace can only be achieved when reintegration programmes are linked with economic development, education, social inclusion and community reconciliation.
Nigeria has battled insurgency in the North-East for more than a decade, with terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) responsible for thousands of deaths, mass displacement and widespread destruction.
In addition to insurgency, the country continues to face bandit attacks in the North-West, communal violence in several states, farmer-herder conflicts and other security challenges.
To complement military operations, the Federal Government introduced rehabilitation initiatives aimed at encouraging fighters to surrender voluntarily, undergo deradicalisation and eventually return to society under monitored conditions.
The newly adopted SOPs are expected to strengthen that process by providing clear operational guidelines, improving accountability and ensuring greater coordination among all institutions involved.
Government officials expressed confidence that the new framework will make the DDR programme more transparent and effective while balancing the need for rehabilitation with the demands of justice.
They maintained that those who committed serious offences would continue to face prosecution, while eligible participants would receive support to help them abandon violence and reintegrate peacefully into their communities.