The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s reported plan to reintegrate hundreds of so-called repentant terrorists into society, describing the move as a dangerous sign of weakness and a failure to fully understand the gravity of terrorism in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on April 19, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the Tinubu administration’s approach to terrorism reflected confusion rather than a coherent national security strategy.
The ADC said the development, alongside past official remarks describing terrorists as “brothers” and even “prodigal sons,” pointed to what it called a troubling soft stance on insurgency.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken note of reports that the Tinubu administration is proceeding with plans to reintegrate hundreds of so-called repentant terrorists into society,” Abdullahi said.
“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 party stressed that terrorism should not be treated as a moral issue or a family disagreement, but as a direct and organised assault on the Nigerian state and its citizens.
“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,” the statement read.
“It has taken lives, destroyed communities, displaced millions, and undermined the very foundation of security and economic stability in our country. 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 argued that the government’s position sends conflicting signals by claiming to fight terrorism while allegedly rushing to return former insurgents to society without clear justice mechanisms or credible public safeguards.
“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 the communities they are being returned to,” Abdullahi stated.
“This is not balance. It is a dangerous failure of judgment and political accommodation taken too far.”
The party warned that reintegration without justice amounts to injustice for victims and could encourage future acts of violence by suggesting that the consequences of terrorism can be negotiated.
“Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It is facilitation,” the ADC said.
“It sends the wrong signal to victims who are still waiting for closure, and even worse, it is a signal to those who may be considering violence that the cost of terror can be negotiated after the fact.”
The opposition party also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to provide answers on who has been investigated, prosecuted, or cleared for reintegration, and whether affected communities were consulted before such decisions were made.
Nigerians do not know who has been investigated, who has been prosecuted, or on what basis individuals are deemed safe for reintegration,” the statement added.
“There is no clarity on the systems that will monitor them after release, and no assurance that affected communities have been consulted or protected.”
ADC maintained that terrorism must be treated as an existential threat and vowed that its own approach would prioritise justice, accountability, and the safety of communities.
“The ADC believes that terrorism must be treated as what it is: an existential threat to the Nigerian state. Our approach will be rooted in clarity, accountability, and competence,” Abdullahi said.
“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.”
The party concluded by insisting that national security requires firm leadership and not what it described as sentimental political accommodation.Politics
“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 statement said.
