Reps Push To Scrap FG's Rehabilitation Programme For Repentant Terrorists

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists, kidnappers and bandits, arguing that the policy undermines efforts to combat insecurity and could embolden violent criminal groups.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion during Wednesday's plenary seeking stronger measures to disrupt the financial networks sustaining terrorism and kidnapping across the country.

The motion, sponsored by Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos), urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to dismantle the financial structures that enable kidnapping and terrorism through stronger financial intelligence, improved inter-agency collaboration and stricter enforcement of anti-money laundering laws.

Presenting the motion, Kuye cited reports by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and independent security research organisations indicating that Nigerians paid an estimated N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers between January 2021 and June 2025.

He also referenced findings by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, which revealed that some Point-of-Sale (POS) operators and other financial channels have allegedly been used to process ransom payments and conceal illicit financial transactions, making it more difficult for security agencies to trace funds and prosecute those responsible.

According to the lawmaker, criminal syndicates and terrorist groups have increasingly exploited both formal and informal financial systems, including bureau de change operators, cryptocurrency platforms, livestock trading and trade-based money laundering schemes, to legitimise proceeds from kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Kuye warned that weak enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations and inadequate coordination among financial intelligence agencies have worsened Nigeria's security challenges, weakened public confidence and contributed to the country's continued placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

Debate on the motion exposed differing opinions among lawmakers, particularly on the issue of ransom payments by victims families.

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, argued against any policy that could criminalise families forced to pay ransom to secure the release of abducted relatives.

According to him, the government must first fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property before blaming citizens who resort to desperate measures to save loved ones.

However, Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, supported the motion and maintained that ransom payments ultimately strengthen criminal groups by providing financial incentives for further kidnappings.

He likened ransom payments to rewarding good performance, arguing that such incentives encourage repeated criminal activities.

Gagdi subsequently proposed an amendment calling on the Federal Government to immediately discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of arrested or convicted terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.

"Anybody who kills deserves to be killed, except in cases such as a motor accident, where the law is clear. But if you invade innocent Nigerians homes, kidnap them, take them into the bush, subject them to terrible torture before taking their lives, including those of traditional rulers, you don't deserve one second of survival," he said.

The lawmaker also alleged that some rehabilitated former insurgents had leaked intelligence that compromised military operations and contributed to attacks on security personnel.

His amendment received overwhelming support and was adopted by voice vote after Speaker Abbas Tajudeen put it before the House.

Also contributing to the debate, Ahmadu Jaha, who represents Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, said only families that had experienced kidnapping truly understood the emotional and psychological trauma associated with such incidents.

He challenged lawmakers opposed to ransom payments to consider whether they would maintain the same position if members of their own families were abducted.

Following the debate, the House adopted the motion as amended, urging the Federal Government to strengthen measures against terrorism financing while ending the rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant terrorists and other violent offenders.

The House's resolution comes amid ongoing debate over the Federal Government's Operation Safe Corridor programme, established in 2016 to deradicalise, rehabilitate and reintegrate low-risk former members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who voluntarily surrender.

The initiative has rehabilitated thousands of former insurgents since its inception.

Earlier this year, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, disclosed that about 789 former terrorist combatants were undergoing the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

The Federal Government has also announced plans to establish a second Operation Safe Corridor camp in the North-West to encourage willing low-risk terrorists and bandits to surrender and undergo rehabilitation, a policy that continues to generate public debate over its effectiveness, accountability and implications for justice.