The Senate has called on the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members and other criminal elements, arguing that the programme has failed to curb Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina), during plenary on Tuesday. The motion focused on the rising attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel, including former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.
During the debate, lawmakers condemned the continued rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members, bandits, kidnappers and other offenders under the Federal Government’s deradicalisation programme, with several senators linking the resurgence of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria to the reintegration of former insurgents into society.
The Senate also expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of attacks on serving and retired military officers, warning that many of the victims previously held strategic intelligence, operational and command positions critical to national security.
Among the incidents highlighted were the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri after a reported $50,000 ransom had been paid, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day abduction of former NYSC Director-General, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death of retired Major Aja while in captivity in Kogi State.
Lawmakers observed a minute of silence in honour of Major General Rabe Abubakar and other victims of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes across the country.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to ensure those responsible for the attacks are apprehended and prosecuted, while calling on security and intelligence agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, threat assessment and early warning mechanisms. It also advocated the accelerated deployment of modern security technologies to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
Nigeria introduced Operation Safe Corridor in 2016 as a deradicalisation initiative for former Boko Haram fighters who voluntarily surrendered. The programme, which began in the North-East before expanding to parts of the North-West, is built on five pillars: disarmament, demobilisation, deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Government figures indicate that thousands of former insurgents have passed through the programme since its inception. However, concerns have persisted over reports that some rehabilitated individuals later returned to armed groups.
Reacting to the Senate’s resolution, security analyst and Associate Professor at the University of Namibia, Dr. Babayo Sule, described the proposal as misguided, arguing that deradicalisation and rehabilitation remain internationally recognised components of counter-insurgency strategies.
According to Sule, while the programme has recorded shortcomings, scrapping it entirely would be counterproductive. He said research indicates the initiative requires reforms rather than abolition and urged lawmakers to investigate its operational challenges and provide greater support for security agencies.
He also dismissed suggestions that the rehabilitation programme was responsible for the resurgence of insecurity, maintaining that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by factors including politicisation, corruption, inadequate logistics and outdated security infrastructure.
Sule warned that abandoning the programme could undermine existing peace efforts and further worsen the country’s security situation.