Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Borno State: Challenges and Prospects

This study examines the challenges and prospects of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration programs targeting ex-combatants in Borno State, North East Nigeria. The deradicalisation and reintegration of former Boko Haram fighters and associated persons is among the most complex peacebuilding challenges in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. The Operation Safe Corridor programme, Nigeria's primary DDR framework, has attracted both commendation and criticism since its establishment, necessitating empirical scrutiny of its community-level outcomes. Using a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected through interviews with community members, programme graduates, local government officials, and representatives of implementing agencies in Maiduguri, Biu, and Gwoza. The theoretical framework draws from DDR theory and transitional justice principles. Findings indicate that the programme has achieved modest successes in psychological deradicalisation and skills acquisition among participating beneficiaries but faces significant challenges in community acceptance of returnees, stigma management, and post-programme livelihood sustainability. Community members, particularly those who lost family members to insurgency, express ambivalence or active hostility toward the reintegration of ex-combatants. Recommendations include expanding community sensitisation programs to build acceptance for reintegration, establishing victim-offender reconciliation frameworks, providing long-term vocational and psychological support for DDR graduates, and standardising community reintegration protocols across Borno State. Keywords: DDR, ex-combatants, Borno State, reintegration, Boko Haram.