From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Senate on Tuesday cautioned the Nigerian military and governors of Northern states against the continued reintegration of so-called repentant terrorists into society, warning that the policy has contributed to the worsening wave of terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the region.
The warning formed part of resolutions adopted by the upper chamber after deliberating on a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, who condemned the abduction and death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in the custody of bandits.
In its resolution, the Senate expressed concern over reports that the late Army general and his wife were abducted in Katsina State by a terrorist gang allegedly led by a former insurgent who had previously been reintegrated into society after claiming to have repented.
Lawmakers maintained that while efforts at de-radicalisation remain important, the continued reintegration of alleged repentant terrorists without credible verification of genuine rehabilitation poses a grave threat to national security.
They argued that some of those reintegrated had allegedly returned to criminal activities, thereby fuelling renewed attacks across parts of Northern Nigeria.
General Abubakar was abducted alongside his wife while travelling through Katsina State. He reportedly died in captivity after suffering a snake bite, while his wife sustained gunshot wounds during a rescue operation mounted by security operatives.
Describing the incident as a national tragedy, the Senate said the retired officer’s death reflected the scale and persistence of insecurity confronting the country.
“The death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and others in the custody of terrorists represents not only personal tragedies but also a painful national loss and a stark reminder of the scale and persistence of insecurity confronting the nation,” the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers further warned that the growing attacks on serving and retired military personnel represented a dangerous evolution in Nigeria’s security crisis.
According to the resolution, “The increasing frequency with which serving and retired military personnel are being targeted by criminal and terrorist groups represents a dangerous evolution in the nation’s security challenges.”
Presenting the motion, Senator Yar’Adua described the rising attacks on serving and retired military officers as deeply disturbing, noting that many of the victims had occupied sensitive intelligence, operational and command positions during their years of service, making the attacks a broader national security concern.
The Senate recalled a series of attacks on military veterans between January 2023 and May 2026, including the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri after a reported ransom payment of $50,000, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harold Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day captivity of former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death of retired Major Aja while in captivity in Kogi State.
Lawmakers said the disturbing pattern underscored the changing tactics of terrorists and criminal gangs, warning that the implications extend beyond the immediate victims to national cohesion, democratic governance and public confidence in state institutions.
They stressed that the constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property remains central to national unity, democratic stability, economic development and public trust.
While commending the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies for their sacrifices in combating insecurity, the Senate called for urgent measures to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve inter-agency collaboration, expand the deployment of modern technology and deepen community participation in security operations.
The lawmakers also observed that the persistent wave of kidnappings and killings across the country has resulted in loss of lives, prolonged captivity of victims, huge ransom payments, emotional trauma, psychological distress and economic hardship for affected families and communities.
Consequently, the Senate urged security agencies to intensify operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers and restore public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.
It also expressed concern over what it described as the consistent reintegration of so-called repentant terrorists into society, insisting that many of the beneficiaries had not genuinely renounced violence before being rehabilitated.
According to the Senate, the development has partly fuelled the resurgence of terrorist and bandit attacks across several states in Northern Nigeria, making it imperative for the Federal Government, the military and state governments to review the policy and ensure that national security considerations take precedence in all de-radicalisation programmes.
