The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over reported plans to reintegrate hundreds of alleged repentant terrorists, accusing the government of adopting a lenient stance on insurgency while being tough on political opposition.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed concern that the Federal Government appears to treat terrorists “as errant family members” rather than as perpetrators of grave crimes against the state.
The ADC said it had taken note of reports indicating that the Tinubu administration is proceeding with plans to reintegrate former insurgents into society without sufficient transparency or accountability.
“Taken together with a pattern of official remarks over time describing such individuals as ‘brothers’ and even ‘prodigal sons,’ this decision points to a deeper and more troubling reality: a government that does not fully grasp the nature or scale of the threat it faces,” the statement said.
Describing terrorism as a sustained and organised campaign of violence, the party warned against what it called the softening of language and policy toward perpetrators.
“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. 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 a weakness,” it stated.
The ADC argued that the government’s approach reflects inconsistency, noting that while authorities claim to be prosecuting a war against terror, they also appear willing to reintroduce former insurgents into society without clear judicial processes.
“This is not balanced. It is a dangerous failure of judgment. 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, to those who may consider violence,” the party added.
The opposition party further criticised what it described as a lack of clarity in the reintegration process, questioning the criteria used to determine genuine repentance, as well as the absence of transparent monitoring and community safeguards.
“Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for reintegration. In the absence of these answers, what is being presented as a strategy begins to look like abdication,” the statement noted.
The ADC maintained that terrorism should be treated as an existential threat to the country, stressing that justice must remain central to any response.
“Those who have committed grave crimes must face the full weight of the law. The safety of Nigerian communities must come first, and the voices of victims must be central to any national response,” it said.
The party concluded by urging the government to adopt a firmer and more coherent strategy, warning that national security requires clarity, discipline, and decisive leadership.
