Group-integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Gi-CBT) to Aid Communities' Reintegration of Former Terrorists in Nigeria: A Randomised Control Trial

Group-integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Gi-CBT) to Aid Communities' Reintegration of Former Terrorists in Nigeria: A Randomised Control Trial

Group-integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Gi-CBT) to Aid Communities' Reintegration of Former Terrorists in Nigeria: A Randomised Control Trial

The project aims to make significant contributions that change the conversation in communities and policy circles through promoting knowledge of nonviolent peace strategies using the Group integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Gi-CBT) to help heal trauma, improve peace, and encourage positive rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram terrorists' members and their families.

The main question it aims to answer are: • What is the feasibility in terms of recruitment, retention, adherence to the intervention and communities/victims' satisfaction with Gi-CBT to promote healing and improve the successful reintegration of of former Boko Haram terrorists' members and their families.into society? Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. The first group, the intervention group, will receive the Group integrated Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Gi-CBT). The second group will receive government intervention involving media messages from the National Orientation Agency devoid of GiCBT. Researchers will compare Gi-CBT group with the media orientation group to see if there are differences between a change in attitude towards ex-offenders' reintegration at base line, end of intervention and three months follow up.

The Gi-CBT sessions will cover relevant aspects of tackling trauma, and the CBT component will involve addressing negative thoughts, building more positive ones and building resilience through post-traumatic situations and adversities.

The second group will receive Media Orientation (MO). The MO sessions will embed media content to create awareness of the government's approaches to reintegration.

Gi-CBT designed to cover relevant aspects of tackling trauma, and the CBT component will involve addressing negative thoughts, building more positive ones and building resilience.

The MO sessions will embed media content to create awareness of the government's approaches to reintegration.

Change is being assessed at baseline, at 12 weeks end of intervention, at 3-months post-intervention]

Change is being assessed at baseline, at 12 weeks end of intervention, at 3-months post-intervention]

Change is being assessed at baseline, at 12 weeks end of intervention, at 3-months post-intervention]

Inclusion Criteria: community members who had previous experience of trauma as a result of Boko Haram atrocities, score 5 and above for the culturally-adapted Trauma Screening Questionnaire (Brewinn et al., 2002) are aged 18+ years and above are residents of the designated areas including Bornu (Maiduguri), and its environs. Exclusion Criteria: those not meeting the study inclusion criteria will be excluded.