Nigeria is a nation of confounding occurrences. The realities of the people are surreal, shaped by years of misgovernance and whipped into conformity by a culture that preaches obedience in the face of disrespect, intimidation and suppression and praises cowardice as self-restraint. The actions of those tasked with managing the nation’s affairs defy logic and sensibility, leaving it somewhat permanently tethered to the dock of underdevelopment and stagnation.
While insecurity has become an old, ragged cross that every Nigerian now has to carry everywhere they go, it is questionable why those responsible for protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians have chosen not to address it permanently, a decision that has weighed heavily on the minds of many. Also, it is not so much about the inability of the government to find a lasting solution to this scourge that often leaves many forlorn and despondent but how the government treats those who have been indicted in the heart-wrenching atrocities and heinous crimes that characterise this perennial insecurity.
Though insecurity, particularly terrorism of any kind in Nigeria, predates APC, the challenge has grown into a devastating and brutal hydra-headed menace under the party largely because those in charge wanted it that way. Before the coming to power of the party in 2015, rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorists who pillaged, plundered, and committed unspeakable atrocities was unheard of and not part of our national discourse. But what many would have sworn was impossible has become the norm following the coming to power of the party. Even more worrisome is how this disturbing policy has become part and parcel of the military doctrine.
On Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, while speaking at the Armed Forces inaugural lecture for the newly established Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre (JDWC) at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja spoke gleefully about the rationality behind rehabilitating terrorists who are wreaking havoc across the country and unleashing terror against hapless and innocent Nigerians. To further rationalise his disturbing justification for mollycoddling and pacifying terrorists, CDS drew équivalence that clearly stood logic on its head by comparing the crimes of terrorists and the action of the biblical prodigal son who squandered the riches of his father. While the prodigal son can be accused of profligacy, insolence, pride and disobedience, his attitude and behaviour are not something that should come up when the conversation is about the nefarious, vicious and demonic actions of these terrorists. Any Nigerian with even a passing awareness and knowledge of what the security situation of the country looks like knows the CDS comparison is not only disingenuous but disgustingly insensitive and only serves to whitewash the terrorists and shield them from the punishment they deserve.
Nigerians may likely have expressed little or no reservations or opposition to the military hierarchy policy of rehabilitating terrorists and funnelling them back into the same society they have terrorised and committed barbaric act if truly the programme had produced significant positive impact and has led to improvement in the security situation of the country but instead what they have witnessed since the federal government and the military began the programme is worsening criminal activities and deepening security crisis across the country, particularly in the middle belt and northern states. This reality and outcome have forced many to question the intention and objectives of the military regarding terrorism in the country.
Another important thing to note is that the CDS may have wittingly or unwittingly dampen the resolve of the troops on the front line as his remark came at a time the military suffered heavy casualty to terrorists attack. In March alone, over 150 soldiers have lost their lives to different attacks and ambushes by terrorists. It is hard to see how this explicitly tactless remark and unguarded rhetoric that does nothing but feeds into the unpalatable narrative that the actions, inactions and reactions of the military and by extension the government have only emboldened the terrorists and that they knowingly or knowingly allowing terrorism and other sundry crimes to fester for reasons that are undoubtedly not in the interests of the country and the people.
The government and the leadership of the military may continue to double down on the flimsy, incoherent and unintelligent reasons for the terrorists rehabilitation programme but what many Nigerians think of them and the conclusion they have reached is that the government and the military are not sincere in its drive to tackle insecurity, especially fighting terrorism, and they are doing is nothing more than a charade to keep the appearance of genuine fight to end terrorism in the country.
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