Senate calls for end to rehabilitation of Boko Haram members, plans to meet Tinubu on security issues

The Senate on Tuesday asked the federal government to stop the practice of freeing and rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram members into society.

The upper chamber made this decision after most lawmakers supported it through voice votes during the plenary. They were considering a motion about the kidnapping and killing of a retired major general, Rabe Abubakar, and other military officers by bandits.

The motion was put forward by Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the senator for Katsina Central Senatorial District.

During the debate, Joseph Ikpea, the senator for Edo Central, suggested an extra prayer to end the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members. Adams Oshiomhole, the senator for Edo North, backed this suggestion, saying that pardoning and rehabilitating criminals “does not make common sense.”

Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the Senate to look into laws that would end the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram terrorists. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who led the session, called for a voice vote on the proposal, and most senators agreed with it.

The Senate’s resolution is not legally binding on the executive branch, as motions do not have the force of law. It shows the view of the upper chamber and will be sent to the Presidency for consideration. Any decision to stop or change the rehabilitation programme would need action from the executive. This could also involve changing existing laws or policies on Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.

Nigeria’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists has been one of the country’s most debated counterterrorism strategies. The programme became well-known in 2016 when the military started seeing more insurgents surrendering, especially in the North-east. This happened after strong military actions against Boko Haram and later its breakaway group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The policy grew in 2021 when thousands of fighters and their families surrendered after violent clashes between the two groups, including the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

The federal government made this initiative official through Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), a programme set up in 2016 for deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The Defence Headquarters coordinates the programme, which includes the military, security agencies, and different ministries like justice, education, health, women’s affairs, and humanitarian affairs, along with the National Orientation Agency.

Under the programme, screened former fighters who are thought to have not committed serious crimes receive psychological help, religious education, vocational training, literacy lessons, and civic instruction at a rehabilitation centre in Gombe State. After finishing the programme, participants are handed over to their state governments to reintegrate them into their communities.

Several North-east states, including Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, have taken in rehabilitated ex-combatants. Borno State, where the insurgency is the worst, has also set up its own reintegration projects. State officials believe that encouraging defections weakens the insurgents and helps gather important intelligence for military actions.

But the policy has faced heavy criticism from victims’ groups, civil society groups, and some security experts. Critics point out that many communities are still suffering from years of violence and do not want to accept former insurgents, especially when victims have received little support or justice. There are also worries about the effectiveness of the screening process and the risk that some rehabilitated fighters might return to insurgency.

Supporters of the programme, including military leaders and some international partners, argue that rehabilitation follows global Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) principles. They say military force alone cannot end the insurgency and that giving a way for defections encourages more fighters to surrender, which reduces the strength of terrorist groups.

Despite these claims, the programme has remained a hot topic in politics, with repeated calls from lawmakers and parts of the public for its review or complete stop.

Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, also suggested an extra prayer asking the Senate leadership to set up a team to talk with President Bola Tinubu about the country’s worsening security situation. The deputy senate president called for a voice vote on this prayer, and most senators agreed.

While presenting the motion, Mr Yar’Adua, a retired colonel, raised concerns about Nigeria’s worsening security issues, especially terrorism and banditry. He noted that terrorist groups have become more advanced and daring, expanding their attacks to include organized abductions of military personnel.

The senator condemned the abduction and killing of Mr Abubakar and several other military officers who have been victims of bandits recently. He urged the Senate leadership to form a team to visit the family of the late military spokesperson, the Katsina State Government, and the Nigerian Army.

Mr Yar’Adua also called on the Senate to ask the federal government to speed up the use of modern security technologies. This includes unmanned aerial systems, geospatial intelligence, integrated command-and-control platforms, advanced communication systems, and other technologies needed to tackle terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.