The Senate has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members, urging authorities to prioritise the arrest and prosecution of terrorists while adopting stronger measures to tackle the country’s worsening security crisis.
The Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately halt its policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating former Boko Haram members into society, arguing that those responsible for acts of terrorism should be arrested, prosecuted and made to face the full weight of the law.
The resolution was adopted during plenary on Tuesday following a motion on the escalating wave of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and attacks targeting serving and retired military personnel across the country.
The motion was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, who expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation and the increasing attacks on military officers and civilians.
During deliberations, Senator Joseph Ikpea proposed an additional prayer calling on the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration programme for former Boko Haram members. The proposal received the support of lawmakers, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and was subsequently adopted by the Senate.
Beyond the call to suspend the programme, the Senate also urged security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals responsible for attacks across Nigeria.
The rehabilitation initiative, popularly known as Operation Safe Corridor, was introduced by the Federal Government in 2016 as a deradicalisation and reintegration programme for former Boko Haram fighters who voluntarily surrendered.
While supporters argue that the programme encourages defections from insurgent groups and contributes to long-term peacebuilding, it has continued to attract criticism from some lawmakers, security experts and victims of insurgency, who believe individuals involved in terrorism should face prosecution instead of being reintegrated into society.
The Senate’s latest resolution comes amid renewed concerns over persistent attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in several parts of the country despite ongoing military operations.
In addition to calling for an end to the rehabilitation programme, the Senate resolved that its leadership should meet with President Bola Tinubu to present lawmakers’ concerns over the worsening security situation and advocate more decisive measures against terrorism and banditry.
The upper chamber also directed its relevant committees to strengthen oversight of security agencies and encouraged improved intelligence gathering, greater collaboration with local communities and the deployment of modern security technologies to combat insecurity nationwide.
The Senate’s resolutions underscore growing legislative concern over Nigeria’s security challenges and reflect increasing calls for a tougher approach to combating terrorism and violent crime. While the Federal Government has yet to formally respond to the latest recommendations, the debate over the future of the rehabilitation programme is expected to remain a key issue in the country’s broader security strategy.