The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s reported plan to reintegrate 744 individuals described as “repentant terrorists” into society, warning that the policy could undermine justice, weaken national security efforts and deepen the trauma of communities affected by insurgency.
The opposition party described the move as a “dangerous failure of judgment,” accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritising rehabilitation over accountability in its counter-terrorism strategy.
The controversy follows reports that about 744 former insurgents have completed a Federal Government deradicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor and are being prepared for reintegration into their communities.
Official figures indicate that a majority of the participants—about 597—are from Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency. Others reportedly come from Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and Bauchi States, while a small number are foreign nationals from Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the development reflects what it called a lack of coherence in Nigeria’s security and justice framework.
“Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is not a moral metaphor,” Abdullahi said, faulting what he described as repeated attempts by authorities to frame insurgents as “repentant brothers” or “prodigal sons.”
According to him, such narratives dilute the gravity of terrorism and risk sending dangerous signals to victims and communities still recovering from years of violence.
“What Nigerians are witnessing is not a coherent security strategy. It is, at best, confusion dressed up as policy; at worst, a dangerous policy of political appeasement,” he said.
The party further argued that reintegration without full judicial accountability, transparent screening processes and strict post-release monitoring could expose already vulnerable communities to renewed insecurity.
It questioned the criteria used in selecting those deemed fit for release, the extent of prosecution carried out, and the mechanisms in place to track and supervise the individuals after reintegration.
“Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for return to society,” Abdullahi said.
“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It sends the wrong message to victims still waiting for closure and suggests that the cost of terror can be negotiated.”
The ADC also faulted what it described as the exclusion of victims and affected communities from the decision-making process, noting that many families remain displaced while others continue to mourn relatives killed in insurgent attacks.
It warned that imposing former fighters on communities without consultation, adequate safeguards, or robust security guarantees could heighten tensions in already fragile regions.
“Terrorism is an existential threat to the Nigerian state. Any response must prioritise justice, victim rights, and community safety, not sentiment-driven policies,” the party added.
The Federal Government, however, has defended the deradicalisation and reintegration programme, insisting it remains a core component of its broader counter-insurgency approach.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Gombe State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the initiative is not an amnesty scheme but a structured rehabilitation process designed to reduce violence and prevent further recruitment into extremist groups.
“This is not a reward for wrongdoing. It is a deliberate strategy to ensure long-term national stability,” he said.
Military authorities explained that participants underwent months of rehabilitation, including psychological counselling, vocational training, religious reorientation and civic education to prepare them for civilian life.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Ali, also dismissed concerns that ex-insurgents were being absorbed into the military, describing such claims as misinformation.
Despite these assurances, the ADC insisted that the programme still raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the long-term security implications for communities expected to receive the returnees.
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