On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Nigerian Senate called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to scrap the deradicalization and rehabilitation program for “repentant” Boko Haram insurgents.
Lawmakers argued that rewarding criminals is counterproductive amid an escalating security crisis characterized by a spike in murders and kidnappings across the country.
The legislative decision came during a plenary session addressing the country’s worsening security landscape.
The issue took center stage following a motion raised by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Katsina Central), which was driven by the recent kidnapping and tragic death in captivity of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife in Katsina State.
During the deliberations, Senator Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central) proposed an additional prayer to suspend the rehabilitation program, which was overwhelmingly approved by a voice vote.
Prominent lawmakers, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), strongly supported the move, stating that offering amnesty and rehabilitation to criminals defies common sense.
Senator Yar’Adua categorized the current state of national insecurity—marked by rampant banditry, terrorism, and community raids—as a national emergency.
He added that the deliberate targeting of both active-duty and retired military personnel signals a highly dangerous escalation. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro noted that the country’s roads have become so dangerous that even public officials are no longer safe.
