The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised reported plans by the Federal Government to reintegrate hundreds of repentant terrorists into society, warning that the move could undermine national security if not properly managed.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the approach suggests a lack of clarity in the government’s handling of terrorism, which it described as a serious and organised threat to the Nigerian state.
While authorities have maintained that the country remains at war with insurgency, the ADC argued that moves to reintegrate former insurgents appear to be proceeding without clearly defined processes for justice and accountability.
“What Nigerians are witnessing is not a coherent security strategy. It is, at best, confusion dressed up as policy,” the statement said.
Beyond that, concerns were raised over the apparent lack of transparency surrounding the process, including how individuals are selected for reintegration, whether they have faced prosecution, and what safeguards exist for affected communities.
There are also questions about the criteria used to determine genuine repentance, as well as the systems in place to monitor those reintegrated into society.
“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice,” the party added, warning that such an approach could weaken public trust and send the wrong signal to victims of terrorism.
At the core of its position, the ADC insists that any response to insurgency must prioritise community safety, uphold the rule of law, and centre the rights of victims.
The Federal Government has yet to respond to the concerns raised in the statement.