By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to discontinue the controversial policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating former Boko Haram fighters into society, insisting that greater priority should be given to prosecuting terrorists, supporting victims and strengthening Nigeria’s overstretched security architecture.
The upper chamber also resolved to send its leadership to meet President Bola Tinubu over the country’s deteriorating security situation and to press for stronger measures against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, on the escalating attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel across the country.
The debate was triggered by the recent death in captivity of former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar, whose abduction and subsequent death in Katsina State reignited concerns over worsening insecurity and the growing vulnerability of both serving and retired military officers.
In adopting the motion, lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late general and other Nigerians killed by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, while also approving a Senate delegation to visit his family, the Katsina State Government and the Nigerian Army to convey condolences.
Leading the call against the rehabilitation policy, Senator Joseph Ikpea argued that the continued reintegration of former insurgents had become a source of public anger and deserved urgent legislative attention.
“One of the issues we need to look at is the rehabilitation of Boko Haram members. My additional prayer is to stop the rehabilitation of Boko Haram,” Ikpea said.
The proposal immediately won support across party lines and was seconded by former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole argued that the policy sends the wrong signal at a time when victims of insurgency and families of fallen soldiers are still grappling with the consequences of terrorist violence.
“It does not make even common sense to grant pardon, rehabilitate and reintegrate criminals into society,” he declared.
He maintained that government efforts should focus on justice for victims, accountability for perpetrators, and improved welfare for security personnel, rather than on programmes perceived as rewarding those who once took up arms against the state.
Earlier, Senator Yar’Adua painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape, warning that criminal groups had become increasingly sophisticated and were now deliberately targeting serving and retired military officers because of their previous operational and intelligence roles.
According to him, attacks on military personnel not only inflict personal tragedies on affected families but also weaken troop morale and embolden criminal groups challenging the authority of the Nigerian state.
“The death of Major General Rabe Abubakar and others in terrorists’ custody represents not only personal tragedy but a painful national loss demanding urgent action,” Yar’Adua said.
The Senator cited a series of attacks involving retired military officers across several states, including the abduction and killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Imo State, the murder of Brigadier General Uwem Udokwere in Abuja, the abduction of former NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga in Katsina and the death in captivity of retired Major Joe Ajayi in Kogi State.
The Senate subsequently urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve inter-agency cooperation, deepen community-based intelligence and deploy modern technologies, including drones, geospatial intelligence and integrated command platforms, to combat terrorism and banditry more effectively.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Osita Izunaso said the growing list of abducted and murdered military officers reflected the gravity of Nigeria’s security crisis and underscored the need for more decisive action.
“This motion has come at the right time when Nigerians expect the nation’s defence and security architecture to confront growing insecurity decisively,” he said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, acknowledged lawmakers’ concerns but urged continued support for security agencies battling insurgency and banditry across the country.
“Our men and women in uniform are doing their best. They have been successful in decimating many criminal elements and deserve our continued support,” Barau said
