The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned recent remarks attributed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, in which he reportedly likened the possibility of rehabilitating terrorists to the Biblical parable of the prodigal son, describing the analogy as “deeply offensive, intellectually flawed and a troubling reflection of what it called a crisis of leadership within Nigeria’s armed forces.”

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the rights advocacy group said the comparison of members of Boko Haram and ISWAP to the prodigal son in the Holy Bible “is not only inappropriate but amounts to a dangerous moral equivalence that diminishes the gravity of the atrocities committed by these terror groups.” HURIWA argued that “the prodigal son narrative is rooted in repentance after moral failing within a family setting, not the systematic slaughter of innocent civilians, mass abductions, bombings and acts that clearly constitute crimes against humanity.”

The group maintained that such a statement from the nation’s highest-ranking military officer sends the wrong signal at a time when Nigerians expect decisive, disciplined and uncompromising action against terrorism. It described the analogy as cowardly and symptomatic of what it alleged to be years of institutional decay within the military establishment, including persistent allegations of procurement corruption, diversion of funds meant for weapons acquisition and inadequate investment in troop welfare and training.

HURIWA said that rather than projecting strength and resolve, the remarks suggest a military leadership that is struggling to confront the realities of asymmetric warfare and is resorting to rhetoric that could be interpreted as providing a soft landing for individuals responsible for widespread bloodshed. The association stressed that the Nigerian state has a primary obligation under both domestic and international law to protect citizens and ensure that perpetrators of heinous crimes are held accountable.

According to the group, the invocation of a Biblical parable in this context is particularly insensitive to millions of Christians who do not associate their faith with violence, extremism or jihadist ideology. It said drawing such parallels risks trivialising both religious teachings and the suffering of victims, while also raising concerns about the appropriateness of religious analogies in matters of national security policy.

HURIWA further stated that the comments amount to an affront to the memory of countless Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorist attacks across the country, including recent victims of bombings and insurgent violence in the North-East. It noted that for families still grieving loved ones killed in such attacks, any suggestion that perpetrators deserve leniency or symbolic comparison to figures of redemption is not only insensitive but amounts to what it described as “dancing on the graves of victims.”

HURIWA specifically drew attention to the heartbreaking killing of a young National Youth Service Corps member, identified as Chidiebere Orji from Enugu State, who was among victims of the Maiduguri bomb blast and has since been buried in his hometown, describing his death as emblematic of the continued human cost of what it called the military’s failure to decisively defeat insurgency.

The group called on General Oluyede to tender an unreserved public apology to Nigerians, particularly to victims of terrorism and members of the Christian faith who may find the analogy offensive. It insisted that leadership at the highest level of the armed forces must reflect clarity of purpose, discipline in communication and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Citing provisions of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism legal framework, including the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, HURIWA emphasised that terrorism is classified as a grave offence with severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment. The law underscores the state’s duty to investigate, prosecute and punish acts of terrorism, while also disrupting financing, recruitment and operational networks of such groups. The association argued that while deradicalisation programmes may exist within a broader counterterrorism strategy, they must not be framed in ways that appear to excuse or morally dilute the crimes committed by terrorists.

HURIWA insisted that advanced democracies confronted with terrorism, including the United States and others, prioritise accountability, intelligence-driven operations and robust military responses while maintaining strict legal consequences for perpetrators. It argued that Nigeria should not adopt narratives that could weaken deterrence or embolden insurgents.

The group therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently review the leadership of the armed forces, asserting that statements of this nature raise legitimate concerns about strategic direction and operational philosophy in the fight against insurgency. It urged the appropriate authorities to consider disciplinary measures, including the possible removal of the Chief of Defence Staff, on the grounds that his comments undermine public confidence and appear to contradict the expectations of firm and decisive leadership.

HURIWA concluded that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism requires not only improved military capability and intelligence coordination but also leadership that communicates with precision, empathy and a clear understanding of the weight of its words in a nation still grappling with the devastating consequences of insurgency.

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