The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s response to the recent suicide bomb attack in Borno State, which claimed the lives of 18 individuals. President Tinubu described the attack as a desperate act of terror. However, HURIWA argues that the government’s policy of releasing so-called repentant Boko Haram terrorists has exacerbated the terrorism threat in the region.
HURIWA highlighted that in a statement released on Sunday, presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale conveyed President Tinubu’s condolences to the victims’ families and the Borno State Government. The President emphasized the success in degrading the terrorists’ capacity and vowed that those responsible for the violence would face justice.
Labeling the President’s response as “presidential crocodile tears,” HURIWA criticized the release of repentant terrorists without prosecution or stringent punitive measures. The organization contends that the notion of repentant terrorists is flawed, as Boko Haram’s deep-seated ideological beliefs make deradicalization and reintegration challenging.
“Between 2016 and 2022, 1,935 Boko Haram terrorists were released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State, according to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa. Additionally, 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State. From July 2021 to May 2022, 51,828 terrorists and their families surrendered, including 13,360 fighters. The non-kinetic approach under Operation Safe Corridor led to the surrender of over 2,000 Boko Haram members between 2016 and 2017, with 67% belonging to the Abubakar Shekau faction.
“Research indicates that deradicalizing terrorists, particularly those with extreme religious ideologies, is a complex and challenging process. Ideologies deeply rooted in religious or political beliefs are not easily abandoned, and rapid reintegration without thorough deradicalization can lead to recidivism, undermining national security efforts”.
HURIWA also criticized President Tinubu’s national security strategy, calling it a failure. The organization labeled the administration and its service chiefs inept and grossly incompetent. HURIWA contrasted the government’s leniency towards terrorists with its harsh actions in the South East, where mass killings of youths under the guise of combating IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) have been reported.
HURIWA highlighted the plight of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, who remains in detention as a political prisoner. The organization accused the government of double standards, noting that while repentant terrorists are released, Kanu, a prisoner of conscience, continues to be held since being captured by what HURIWA described as “the most ruthlessly corrupt and oppressive government Nigeria has ever had,” referring to the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari.
HURIWA urged the government to adopt a more stringent approach towards terrorists, including prosecution and severe punitive measures. The organization called on President Tinubu to rethink his national security strategy and prioritize the safety and security of all Nigerians.
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Concluding that the release of terrorists without accountability is a failure of the current administration to protect its citizens effectively, HURIWA emphasized the need for a comprehensive and robust approach to combating terrorism, one that ensures justice for victims and prevents the resurgence of extremist threats in Nigeria.
