The Senate on Tuesday called for an end to the pardon and rehabilitation of convicted criminals, particularly Boko Haram members, bandits, kidnappers, and other insurgents, citing concerns over the country’s worsening security situation.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulazeez Yar’Adua on the abduction and killing of former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, and other serving and retired military officers.
During plenary presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, lawmakers condemned the rehabilitation of Boko Haram insurgents and other criminals under various deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes operated by some state governments. Several senators argued that the continued release of “repentant” insurgents into society has contributed to the persistence of insecurity, particularly in northern Nigeria.
The Senate also expressed concern over what it described as a disturbing rise in the targeting of serving and retired military personnel by criminal and terrorist groups, warning that the trend represents a dangerous evolution in the country’s security challenges.
Adopting the motion, the Senate described the killing of retired Major General Abubakar while in the custody of terrorists as a painful national loss and a stark reminder of the scale of insecurity confronting the country.
“The death of retired Major General 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 Senate said.
Lawmakers cited a number of attacks on senior military officers between January 2023 and May 2026, including the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri after a reported $50,000 ransom was paid, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day captivity of former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death of retired Major Aja while in captivity in Kogi State.
According to the Senate, many of the victims previously held sensitive intelligence, operational and command positions, making the attacks a matter of national security.
The upper chamber warned that the deteriorating security situation now extends beyond individual victims and poses a threat to national unity, democratic stability, economic development and public confidence in government.
The Senate reaffirmed that the protection of lives and property remains the constitutional responsibility of the government and urged security agencies to strengthen efforts to tackle kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes across the country.
NewsBits reports that lawmakers further noted that the rising wave of kidnappings and killings has resulted in deaths, prolonged captivity, huge ransom payments, emotional trauma, economic hardship, and psychological distress for victims, their families, and the nation.
