The Senate has called on the Federal Government to end its rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant Boko Haram members, following escalating attacks on retired and serving military personnel, including the killing of Major General Rabe Abubakar.
The Senate has had enough of Nigeria’s “repentant” insurgents walking free.
On Tuesday, the Red Chamber called on the Federal Government to halt its policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant Boko Haram members and other insurgents into society, following a motion on escalating attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel, including former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.
The motion was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina). The Senate condemned the deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes covering Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals, with some lawmakers linking the unending insurgency crisis, particularly in the North, to the continued release of “repentant” criminals.
The Senate also raised alarm over the worsening security situation, warning that the abduction and killing of retired military officers signals a dangerous shift in the country’s security challenges. Lawmakers cited a disturbing pattern of attacks between January 2023 and May 2026, including the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri after a reported $50,000 ransom payment, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day captivity of former NYSC Director-General, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death in captivity of retired Major Aja in Kogi State.
Lawmakers warned that the trend poses a serious threat to national security, given that many victims previously held sensitive intelligence, operational and command positions, with implications extending to national unity and public confidence in government.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of Major General Rabe Abubakar and all Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
It urged the Federal Government to ensure perpetrators face the full wrath of the law, called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and early warning systems, and pushed for accelerated deployment of modern security technologies to combat terrorism and banditry.
NEWS NOW:
