Insecurity: Senate Orders FG to End Boko Haram Rehabilitation, Prosecute Terrorists

Mourns Late Gen. Rabe Abubakar, Demands Technology-Driven Security Overhaul

Army Confirms Surrender of Two Senior Terrorist Commanders in Borno

By Frontline Reporters

ABUJA — The Senate has called on the Federal Government to immediately discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members, insisting that terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals should be prosecuted and made to face the full weight of the law instead of being returned to society.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, during plenary, amid growing concerns over escalating attacks, kidnappings and killings targeting serving and retired military personnel across the country.

Lawmakers unanimously condemned the worsening security situation, describing it as a national emergency marked by terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and persistent attacks on communities that have continued to claim innocent lives and undermine national stability.

The Senate noted that insecurity, once largely confined to the North-East, has spread across virtually every region of the country, demanding a more coordinated, technology-driven and intelligence-based response from security agencies.

As deliberations were underway, the Nigerian Army announced that two senior terrorist commanders had surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State. The military disclosed that the suspects are currently in custody and have already provided valuable intelligence expected to strengthen ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

Senate Honours Late General Abubakar

The upper chamber observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late Major-General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, who died in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists in Katsina State. The Senate also paid tribute to all Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

It further resolved to send a high-powered delegation to condole with the family of the late General, the Katsina State Government and the Nigerian Army.

Presenting the motion, Senator Yar’Adua described the killing of General Abubakar and other retired military officers as a painful national tragedy that demands urgent government action.

According to him, retired senior military officers have increasingly become targets because of their previous command, intelligence and operational responsibilities, warning that such attacks not only demoralise serving personnel but also embolden criminal elements challenging the authority of the Nigerian state.

Catalogue of Attacks on Retired Officers

Yar’Adua listed several high-profile attacks on retired military officers since 2023, including the abduction of retired Colonel Rabiu Garba Yandoto and his children in Zamfara; the kidnapping and murder of Major-General Richard Chukwudi Duru in Imo despite payment of ransom; the killing of Brigadier-General Uwem Harold Udokwere in Abuja; the abduction of former NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga, in Katsina; the death of retired Major Joe Ajayi while in captivity in Kogi; the abduction and rescue of Colonel Joseph Ajanaku in Plateau; and the abduction and eventual death of Major-General Rabe Abubakar in Katsina.

He argued that the recurring attacks have weakened public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture while exposing even retired military personnel to increasing danger.

Lawmakers Reject Rehabilitation Policy

One of the most heated moments during the debate centred on the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation and reintegration programme for repentant Boko Haram members.

Senator Joseph Ikpea urged the Senate to formally call on the Federal Government to stop rehabilitating former insurgents, saying the programme has become a source of widespread public concern.

According to him, Nigerians cannot understand why individuals responsible for acts of terrorism should receive rehabilitation while victims and their families continue to suffer.

His proposal received overwhelming support, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the policy as illogical and unjust.

Oshiomhole argued that granting rehabilitation and reintegration to terrorists sends the wrong signal to society and undermines justice for victims as well as the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces.

He maintained that government should instead focus on prosecuting offenders, compensating victims and providing greater support for security personnel risking their lives to defend the nation.

Call for Modern Security Technology

Beyond ending the rehabilitation programme, the Senate urged security and intelligence agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, information sharing, early warning mechanisms and threat assessment capabilities.

Lawmakers also called for stronger collaboration between security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and local communities in order to improve community-based intelligence.

The Senate further urged the Federal Government to accelerate the deployment of modern security technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), geospatial intelligence systems, integrated command-and-control platforms and advanced communication technologies to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

While commending the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies for their sacrifices, lawmakers insisted that legislative oversight of the security sector must be strengthened.

Senator Abdul Ningi called for more rigorous oversight of security institutions, including regular reviews of casualty records, operational performance and welfare packages for families of fallen security personnel.

Similarly, Senator Osita Izunaso described the continued attacks on military personnel as unacceptable, saying the country must adopt stronger measures to protect those who have devoted their lives to national service.

Responding, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, acknowledged the concerns raised by lawmakers but urged Nigerians to continue supporting the Armed Forces.

He noted that terrorism remains a global challenge affecting many countries, particularly within West Africa, adding that Nigerian troops have continued to record significant successes against criminal elements despite enormous challenges.

Army Confirms Surrender of Two Terrorist Commanders

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed the surrender of two senior terrorist commanders to troops of Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai in Geidam, Borno State.

In a statement issued by the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Captain Mohammed Goni, the military disclosed that the suspects surrendered on July 4 before arriving in Maiduguri the following day, where they are currently undergoing detailed profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.

According to the Army, preliminary investigations revealed that the two commanders occupied influential positions within the terrorist hierarchy and possess extensive knowledge of the group’s operations, logistics network and command structure.

The military said intelligence obtained from the suspects is already assisting ongoing operations aimed at locating and dismantling remaining terrorist enclaves across the North-East.

Describing the development as another major setback for insurgents, the Army maintained that sustained land and air offensives, backed by improved intelligence, have continued to weaken terrorist networks and compel many fighters to surrender.

Operation Hadin Kai reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the offensive until terrorism is completely defeated and lasting peace restored across the North-East.

However, the surrender has reignited debate over the fate of captured insurgents, coming barely hours after the Senate demanded an end to the rehabilitation programme and insisted that terrorists should be prosecuted rather than reintegrated into society.

While military authorities acknowledged that high-ranking surrendered commanders possess critical intelligence capable of supporting ongoing operations, they said no decision has yet been taken on whether the two suspects will eventually face prosecution or be considered for any rehabilitation process.

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