By BONIFACE AKARAH

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to reintegrate hundreds of purportedly repentant terrorists, warning that the move reflects a dangerous misunderstanding of the country’s security crisis.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the decision, alongside past official remarks describing insurgents as “brothers” and “prodigal sons,” points to “a deeper and more troubling reality: a government that does not fully grasp the nature or scale of the threat it faces.”

“Terrorism is not a family dispute. It is not a moral metaphor. It is a sustained and organised campaign of violence against the Nigerian state and its people,” ADC said.

It argued that adopting conciliatory language and policies that appear to prioritise rehabilitation over accountability sends the wrong signal in the fight against insurgency.

“To respond to such a threat with language that softens its meaning, and policies that appear to prioritise rehabilitation ahead of accountability, is not compassion. It is weakness,” ADC stated.

It maintained that the Federal Government’s approach lacks coherence, describing it as “confusion dressed up as policy” and warning that it risks worsening the plight of victims.

“What Nigerians are witnessing is not a coherent security strategy. It is, at best, confusion dressed up as policy; at worst, a dangerous policy of political appeasement that compounds the tragedy of victims of terror,” Abdullahi said.

He noted that while the government claims to be prosecuting a war against terrorism, its reintegration policy appears to contradict that stance.

“On one hand, the government claims to be prosecuting a war against terror. On the other, it appears eager to reintroduce insurgents into society without first establishing clear processes for justice, without transparent standards for determining genuine repentance, and without credible safeguards to protect communities,” ADC added.

The party warned that reintegrating former insurgents without accountability undermines justice and could embolden further violence.

“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It sends the wrong signal to victims who are still waiting for closure, and even worse, it signals that the cost of terror can be negotiated after the fact,” ADC said.

It also faulted the government for failing to provide details on the process, questioning the absence of transparency around prosecution, monitoring, and community safety.

“Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for reintegration. There is no clarity on monitoring systems or assurances that affected communities have been consulted,” the party said.

It insisted that terrorism must be treated as an existential threat, stressing that accountability should remain central to any counter-terrorism strategy.

“Those who have committed grave crimes will face the full weight of the law, because justice is not optional in a society governed by laws,” ADC stated.

It added that national security requires firm and decisive leadership, warning against what he described as mixed signals.

“Nigeria cannot afford mixed signals in a fight that demands discipline and resolve. National security is not a guessing game, and it is not a space for sentiment to override judgment,” the party said.

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