Senate in session, Photo: National Assembly
By Victory Oghene
The Senate under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio has stated reasons why it rejected any plan of rehabilitating former Boko Haram fighters.
The senate insisted that terrorists should face justice rather than reintegration into society because they were responsible for the killings of innocent people.
This Senate took this stand amid announcement by the military that two commanders of the Boko Haram terror group have surrendered to troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in the Yunasari-Geidam axis of Yobe state.
A statement by the OPHK acting Media Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the troops “recorded another significant breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign following the surrender of two senior commanders to troops of Sector 2 in Geidam, Yobe State, on 4 July 2026.”
He added that the terrorists, identified as Munzirs within the terrorist leadership structure, arrived in Maiduguri at 19:30 on June 5, 2026, and were currently in military custody undergoing detailed profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.
Meanwhile, the Senate took the position during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) on the escalating attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel across the country.
The motion was prompted by the recent death of the former Director of Defence Information, Major-General Rabiu Abubakar (rtd), who died in captivity after being abducted by bandits in Katsina State.
While the Senate unanimously adopted resolutions aimed at strengthening intelligence gathering, deploying modern security technology and supporting victims’ families, the debate took a dramatic turn when senators pushed additional prayers demanding tougher action against terrorists and rejecting their rehabilitation.
Senator Joseph Ikpea from Edo Central, in an additional prayer, opposed the rehabilitation of criminals, just as Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who seconded the prayer, argued that granting rehabilitation and reintegration to terrorists amounts to rewarding criminality while their victims continued to suffer.
The former Labour leader declared that “It does not make even common sense to grant pardon, rehabilitate and integrate criminals into society.”
He insisted that individuals responsible for mass killings, abductions and destruction of communities should face the full weight of the law instead of being returned to society through government-sponsored programmes.
Earlier, Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), while seconding the motion, argued that the original prayers did not go far enough. Though the motion commended security agencies and urged stronger intelligence gathering, Izunaso maintained that Nigerians expected concrete results rather than routine appeals.
Referring to the killing of Abubakar, he noted that reports surrounding the circumstances of the retired officer’s death had raised serious questions.
Adding that “there have been stories that some people know those who were involved.”
Among others, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also proposed that the gravity of the security situation required direct engagement with the Presidency.
He urged that a Senate delegation led by the leadership should meet President Bola Tinubu to formally present lawmakers’ concerns over the deteriorating security situation nationwide.
Meanwhile, following the debate, senators observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late Abubakar and all Nigerians killed by terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
The Senate also commended the armed forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices.It re-echoed the call to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, early warning systems and inter-agency collaboration.
