Nigeria’s Senate has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt its policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating former Boko Haram fighters into society, amid growing concerns over national security and public safety.
The resolution was adopted during plenary on Tuesday following renewed debates over the effectiveness of the government’s deradicalisation and reintegration programme, which has remained a contentious issue among lawmakers, security experts and communities affected by the insurgency.
Several senators argued that the continued reintegration of ex-insurgents has eroded public confidence in the country’s counterterrorism efforts, particularly among victims of the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. They maintained that individuals who took up arms against the Nigerian state should face the full weight of the law rather than be returned to civilian communities.
Lawmakers also expressed concern that the programme could undermine justice for thousands of families who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods during years of attacks by the extremist group.
The Senate, therefore, urged the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration policy, insisting that greater priority should be given to supporting victims of terrorism, strengthening security operations and ensuring accountability for crimes committed during the insurgency.
The latest resolution reflects growing pressure on the government to review its approach to tackling insurgency as Nigeria continues to battle insecurity across several regions of the country. While supporters of rehabilitation argue that deradicalisation can encourage defections and weaken extremist groups, critics insist that reintegrating former fighters poses significant security risks and disregards the suffering of victims.
The Federal Government has yet to officially respond to the Senate’s latest position.
