ROLES OF COUNSELLORS IN REHABILITATING EX-HOSTAGES OF TERRORIST ATTACK: THE HELPING PROFESSIONALS POINT OF VIEW

Abstract

Ex-hostages of terrorist attack face tremendous psychosocial challenges which are devastating
to their well being. This study investigated the roles of counsellors in rehabilitating ex-hostages
of terrorist attack as expressed by helping professionals in Ilorin metropolis. The study was a
survey research conducted on a total of 350 helping professionals. A questionnaire titled “Role
of Counsellors in Rehabilitating Ex-hostages of Terrorist Attack Questionnaire (RCRETAQ)”
was used to collect data for the study. The instrument was validated and tested for reliability
using test re-test method which yielded a coefficient of 0.80. Mean and rank order analysis was
used to answer the research question raised while the hypotheses formulated were tested using ttest
and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical techniques. The study revealed that
counsellors can assist in rehabilitating ex-hostages of terrorist attack by helping them to relate
well with family and friends; get aids from stakeholders, donor agencies and by providing group
counselling for traumatised victims. It was also found that there were no significant differences
in the expression of respondents on the roles of counsellors in rehabilitation ex-hostages of
terrorist attack based on gender, type of profession and years of working experience but
significant difference was found based on place of work. Counsellors should therefore make
themselves relevant and take active roles in rehabilitation centres for terrorist victims in order to
help victim develop the skills needed to live, management of their fear and assist them to come
out of trauma before they are integrated into the community.