…Comment Triggers Nationwide Backlash
…DHQ Says Stance Aligns With Global Best Practices
…Experts Warn Stance May Embolden Insurgency
Daud Olatunji
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, on Thursday sparked nationwide debate after asserting that terrorists operating in Nigeria should be rehabilitated rather than killed, stressing the need to give insurgents a chance to repent.
Oluyede made the remarks at the inaugural lecture of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Abuja, defending the Federal Government’s deradicalisation initiative, Operation SAFE CORRIDOR.
He likened insurgents to the biblical prodigal son, arguing that denying them a path to return could prolong conflicts in affected regions.
“Many people ask why we should rehabilitate criminals and not kill them. That may make sense,” Oluyede said.
“But even in the Bible, we heard about the prodigal son. If there was no window for him to return, would he have come back?”
He emphasised that most insurgents are Nigerians and that creating an avenue for voluntary surrender remains a strategic option.
“These are Nigerians, mostly. It is important for us to give them that window to repent, if they want, rather than pushing them to the extreme,” the CDS added, appealing to the National Assembly to support and fund the programme, which is currently financed by the Defence Headquarters.
However, Oluyede’s remarks drew sharp criticism across social media platforms. Many Nigerians condemned the position as insensitive, questioning why perpetrators of violence and abduction would be treated with opportunities while victims continue to suffer.
An X user, @Naija_Realtalk, described the policy as dangerous, calling it a “policy of pain” to offer terrorists a “biblical chance” amid ongoing killings.
Another user, @akindology, expressed concern about the government’s ability to protect lives, while @emini_lanre warned that such approaches could embolden insurgents.
Critics also questioned the use of religious analogies to address pressing national security challenges.
In response, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed claims that the Armed Forces are prioritising leniency over justice for victims.
In a statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the DHQ described viral social media posts as deliberately misleading and said they misrepresented the CDS’s comments.
“Operation SAFE CORRIDOR is not an amnesty programme but a carefully structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative targeted strictly at surrendered, screened, and low-risk former combatants,” the DHQ clarified.
The statement added that the programme has contributed to intelligence gathering and weakened insurgent structures.
The DHQ further emphasised that Oluyede’s remarks reflect global best practices, where rehabilitation complements battlefield
successes, not replaces them. “Any attempt to frame these remarks as sympathy for terrorists is a gross misinterpretation,” it said, reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to neutralising active terrorists and protecting law-abiding citizens.
Security experts have, however, warned that such statements, if misunderstood, could be exploited by insurgents to justify continued attacks or recruitment, particularly in the North-East where insecurity remains high.
Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, since its inception, has processed hundreds of former combatants, combining military action with non-kinetic strategies such as deradicalisation to break cycles of violence and reduce insurgent recruitment.
The controversy underscores the delicate balance between national security, justice for victims, and long-term strategies to rehabilitate those who have surrendered, highlighting a complex debate over modern counter-insurgency approaches in Nigeria.
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