The African Democratic Congress has faulted plans by President Bola Tinubu’s government to reintegrate hundreds of repentant terrorists into society.

The ADC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday, described the development as troubling, alleging that the government did not understand the scale of security challenges in the country. 

“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. 

“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 coalition said.

The government announced last Thursday that 744 former terrorists would be reintegrated following their graduation from the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camp under Operation Safe Corridor.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, who spoke at the event held in Gombe State, described the programme as a deliberate strategy to reduce violence, weaken extremist recruitment and promote long-term stability.

However, the ADC berated the government for prioritising rehabilitation ahead of accountability, insisting “terrorism has taken lives, destroyed communities, displaced millions, and undermined the very foundation of security and economic stability in our country.”

“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.

“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,” it explained. 

Accusing the government of failure to answer the most basic questions that any serious government must confront in a matter of this magnitude, the party alleged a lack of clarity on the systems that would monitor them after release, and no assurance that affected communities had been consulted or protected.

According to the party, it is wrong for the government to claim to be waging war against terror while trying to reintegrate insurgents who destabilised the country for years.

It stated, “On one hand, the government claims to be prosecuting a war against terror. On the other, it appears eager to reintroduce insurgents, who have waged a war against the Nigerian state, 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. This is not balance. It is a dangerous failure of judgment and political accommodation taken too far.”

The ADC insisted terrorism must be treated as an existential threat to the Nigerian state, charging the government on clarity, accountability and competence. 

“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. 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.

“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. It requires leadership that understands the stakes and is prepared to act with firmness and clarity,” the party added.