Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ignited widespread controversy after suggesting that repentant terrorists should be given an opportunity to surrender and reintegrate into society, drawing a parallel with the biblical parable of the prodigal son.
General Oluyede made the remarks on Tuesday during the Nigerian Armed Forces’ inaugural lecture at the Joint Doctrine Centre in Abuja. Addressing public criticism of the military’s deradicalisation efforts, he responded to questions about why security forces do not simply eliminate all terrorists.
“People are asking why we are not killing terrorists even if they have killed others. Well, even in the Bible, the prodigal son was given a chance, so we should give terrorists a chance to repent if they want to,” he said.
He added that many insurgents are Nigerians and that it is important to provide a window for repentance rather than pushing them further into extremism.
Operation Safe Corridor
The comments align with the federal government’s Operation Safe Corridor, a deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) programme established in 2016. The initiative is designed to handle low-risk former combatants who voluntarily surrender, undergo screening, and participate in rehabilitation before potential reintegration into society.
While reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to kinetic operations and the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, General Oluyede stressed that lasting peace requires more than military force alone. He described rehabilitation as a strategic tool to weaken insurgent groups and break the cycle of violence.
National Reactions
However, the statement has provoked strong reactions across the country. Supporters argue that a combination of military pressure and non-kinetic measures is essential for sustainable peace. Critics, including some victims’ groups and opposition voices, contend that the approach risks undermining justice for the thousands killed and displaced by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist elements.
Concerns have also been raised about reports of recidivism among some previously rehabilitated individuals.
Defence Headquarters Clarifies
The Defence Headquarters has pushed back against what it described as misrepresentation of the CDS’s remarks, clarifying that Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme but a carefully vetted process focused on screened, low-risk surrenderers. It emphasised that the programme complements, rather than replaces, ongoing military operations.
Security analysts note that the remarks reflect a broader strategic shift in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts — combining aggressive battlefield tactics with efforts to encourage defections and reduce the manpower available to terrorist networks.
The Debate Continues
As the debate intensifies on social media and in public discourse, questions continue about the balance between justice for victims, national security, and the potential for genuine rehabilitation and forgiveness.
The Defence Headquarters has yet to issue additional clarification beyond its initial response to the controversy.
For families who have lost loved ones to insurgency, the idea of offering repentance to those responsible is deeply painful. For security planners, the logic of encouraging defections is rooted in the recognition that military force alone cannot eliminate an ideology.
Where the line between mercy and justice lies — and whether one can exist without the other — remains at the heart of a debate that shows no sign of abating.
