Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba has urged the Nigerian Government to reconsider its stance on reintegrating ‘repentant’ terrorists.
Aba spoke amid recent disclosure by the National Security Adviser that more than 124,408 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and their family members have surrendered.
The Nigerian Government operates a policy of reintegrating the repentant terrorists into the society.
However, the Methodist Prelate is uncomfortable with the arrangement, urging caution.
Aba was sad that people who kill, maim and sack communities would receive such a treatment.
He said, “To be honest, it’s a very bad policy. You can’t destroy a man’s family, kill his children, burn his village, and then expect him to accept you back because you suddenly claim to have repented.
“You committed mass murder, destroyed lives and properties, then returned and were ‘reabsorbed’ into society—perhaps even into the military.”
While describing it as unjust, the Church leader added that “I believe very strongly that if the government is serious about tackling insecurity, it must show courage. And I mean real courage.
“You can’t pamper criminals. A repentant terrorist is still a terrorist until justice is served. What kind of repentance is that? Even the Bible talks about restitution.
“If you say you’ve repented, then show proof. Go back, rebuild the communities you destroyed. Apologize publicly. Make peace with the families of the victims.
“That’s repentance, not just declaring it and walking free. Our people are being slaughtered in their sleep, in churches, in markets. And those responsible are being granted amnesty and reintegrated?”
“That’s not how you build peace. That’s how you fuel more violence. I pray the president listens to wise counsel. No country grows when justice is sacrificed on the altar of political convenience,” he told Vanguard.