Nigeria’s Defense Chief Sparks Debate Over Call to Let ‘Terrorists’ Repent
ABUJA — Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has ignited a heated debate after suggesting that terrorists should be given an opportunity to repent rather than being eliminated, a stance that challenges the widespread demand for harsher military action against insurgents.
Speaking during an Armed Forces lecture in Abuja, General Oluyede defended the military’s Operation Safe Corridor, a program designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate former insurgents who voluntarily surrender. While acknowledging that many Nigerians believe terrorists should be killed for their crimes, the general argued that the military must still create a path for those willing to lay down their arms.
“Many of these insurgents are Nigerians,” Oluyede said, drawing a parallel to the biblical story of the prodigal son. He maintained that pushing them further toward extremism would be counterproductive and that a measure of compassion was essential for long-term peace.
However, the remarks have drawn sharp criticism from some security analysts and citizens who contend that the policy underestimates the scale of violence and trauma inflicted by insurgent groups. Critics point to recurring concerns that some rehabilitated fighters allegedly return to terrorism, undermining the very security the military is tasked with upholding.
The debate reflects the broader tension between security forces and a public weary of a protracted insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across northeastern Nigeria. While Operation Safe Corridor has been praised by international partners as a model for deradicalization, domestic skepticism persists over its effectiveness and the message it sends to victims of attacks.
As the military continues to grapple with an insurgency that has lasted more than a decade, General Oluyede’s remarks have added fresh fuel to the ongoing national conversation about the balance between justice, security, and reconciliation.
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