Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over plans to reintegrate hundreds of former insurgents into society, warning that the move could weaken justice and embolden terrorism.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the policy as a “dangerous failure of judgment,” accusing the Federal Government of placing rehabilitation ahead of accountability.
The criticism follows reports that at least 744 individuals described as “repentant terrorists” have completed the government’s deradicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor. The graduates are expected to be reintegrated into communities across the country.
According to available data, the majority of the ex-fighters are from Nigeria’s North-East region. Borno State accounts for 597 of the participants, while others come from Adamawa State, Yobe State, Kano State, and Bauchi State. A smaller number are foreign nationals from neighbouring countries, including Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
Reacting to the development, the ADC said the government’s approach reflects a misunderstanding of the seriousness of terrorism.
“Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is not a moral metaphor,” Abdullahi said, criticising what he described as official rhetoric that frames insurgents as “brothers” or “prodigal sons.” He warned that such language diminishes the gravity of the threat and sends the wrong signal to both victims and potential perpetrators.
The party argued that the policy lacks a clear and coherent security framework. “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,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC further cautioned that reintegrating former fighters without transparent judicial processes, clear standards for assessing genuine repentance, and strong monitoring systems could expose already vulnerable communities to renewed violence.
However, the Federal Government has defended the initiative as a key part of its counter-terrorism efforts. Speaking at a recent graduation ceremony in Gombe, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, said the programme is not an amnesty but a structured approach aimed at reducing violence and preventing further radicalisation.
“This is not a reward for wrongdoing,” he said. “It is a deliberate strategy to ensure long-term national stability.”
Military authorities explained that participants underwent months of rehabilitation, including psychological counselling, vocational training, religious reorientation, and civic education to prepare them for reintegration into civilian life.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Yusuf Ali, also rejected claims that former insurgents were being recruited into the military, attributing such concerns to misinformation.
Despite these assurances, the ADC insists that the programme remains opaque. The party questioned the criteria used to vet participants, whether they had been prosecuted, and what safeguards exist to monitor them after reintegration.
“Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe,” Abdullahi said.
He added that reintegration without justice risks undermining public confidence. “Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It sends the wrong signal to victims still waiting for closure and suggests that the cost of terror can be negotiated.”
The ADC also highlighted the plight of victims of insurgency, many of whom remain displaced or have lost family members and livelihoods. The party warned that reintegrating former fighters without consulting affected communities or providing adequate security guarantees could deepen distrust and reopen old wounds.
“Terrorism is an existential threat to the Nigerian state,” the party stated, urging the government to prioritise justice, victims’ rights, and community safety over what it described as “sentiment-driven policies.”
