Dare Babalola
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised reported plans by the administration of Bola Tinubu to reintegrate hundreds of alleged repentant terrorists into society, describing the move as a dangerous policy that could undermine national security.
In a statement issued late Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the development reflects what he called a lack of proper understanding of the scale and nature of terrorism confronting the country.
“The decision points to a deeper and more troubling reality: a government that does not fully grasp the nature or scale of the threat it faces,” Abdullahi said.
He stressed that terrorism should not be trivialised or framed in sentimental terms, warning that such an approach weakens the seriousness of the fight against insurgency.
“Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is not a moral metaphor. It is a sustained and organised campaign of violence against the Nigerian state and its people,” he said. “To respond to such a threat with language that softens its meaning, and policies that appear to prioritise rehabilitation ahead of accountability, is not compassion. It is weakness.”
The ADC further argued that the federal government’s approach lacks coherence, alleging contradictions in its handling of security matters.
“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 stated.
According to the party, reintegrating former insurgents without clearly defined judicial processes, transparency, and safeguards poses risks to affected communities.
“On one hand, the government claims to be prosecuting a war against terror. On the other, it appears eager to reintroduce insurgents without first establishing clear processes for justice and without credible safeguards to protect the communities they are being returned to. This is not balance. It is a dangerous failure of judgment,” he added.
The statement emphasised that justice must remain central to any reintegration programme, warning that failure to ensure accountability could embolden further violence.
“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It sends the wrong signal to victims who are still waiting for closure, and even worse, it is a signal to those who may be considering violence that the cost of terror can be negotiated after the fact,” Abdullahi said.
The party also raised concerns over what it described as a lack of transparency, noting that key questions remain unanswered.
“Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for reintegration. There is no clarity on the systems that will monitor them after release,” he said.
Reaffirming its position, the ADC insisted that terrorism should be treated as an existential threat, calling for a firm, law-based approach.
“Those who have committed grave crimes will face the full weight of the law, because justice is not optional in a society governed by laws,” Abdullahi stated.
He added that the safety of citizens and the rights of victims must take precedence in any national security strategy, warning that Nigeria “cannot afford mixed signals in a fight that demands discipline and resolve.”
