The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the federal government’s plan to reintegrate repentant terrorists into communities, saying it shows a poor grasp of the scale of the security threat facing the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the party, said the move raises serious concerns about the government’s counterterrorism approach.
Abdullahi said the plan, alongside past remarks describing insurgents as “brothers” and “prodigal sons”, shows the government is downplaying the severity of terrorism.
“Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is a sustained and organised campaign of violence against the Nigerian state and its people,” he said.
He said the policy prioritises rehabilitation over accountability. He warned that this approach could weaken the fight against insurgency.
“What Nigerians are witnessing is not a coherent security strategy. It is, at best, confusion dressed up as policy,” he added.
The ADC said the government is sending mixed signals. It noted that while authorities claim to prosecute a war against terror, they are also moving to reintegrate former insurgents without clear safeguards.
Abdullahi said the government has not explained how it assesses individuals for reintegration. He said there is no clarity on prosecution, monitoring, or post-release measures.
The party added that authorities have not properly consulted affected communities. He said this raises serious concerns about their safety.
“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice,” he said.
The opposition party warned that the policy could undermine victims’ rights and encourage further violence.
It said Nigeria must treat terrorism as an existential threat and respond with firm, decisive action.
The ADC said any credible strategy must prioritise accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of communities.
It added that national security requires clarity and consistency, not what it described as “political accommodation taken too far.”
