The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has described the Federal Government’s reintegration of hundreds of so-called repentant terrorists into society, as a dangerous sign of weakness and a failure to fully understand the gravity of terrorism in Nigeria.
The ADC insisted that national security requires firm leadership and not sentimental political accommodation, stressing that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s approach to terrorism reflected confusion rather than a coherent national security strategy.
The opposition 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.
A statement on Sunday, April 19, 2026 by Bolaji Abdullahi, National Secretary of the ADC, noted that 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 ADC 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.
It said; “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.
“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,” the opposition party stressed.
ADC further 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.
According to the ADC; “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.
“This is not balance. It is a dangerous failure of judgment and political accommodation taken too far. Reintegration without justice is not reconciliation; it is injustice. It is facilitation.
“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,” ADC said.
The opposition party particularly 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.
It further stated; “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 the systems that will monitor them after release, and no assurance that affected communities have been consulted or protected,” it noted.
ADC insisted that terrorism must be treated as an existential threat, emphasising that its own approach would prioritise justice, accountability, and the safety of communities.
Abdullahi said; “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,” Abdullahi stated.
