The House of Representatives has joined the Senate in urging the federal government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration programme for repentant terrorists, arguing that the policy has failed to address Nigeria's worsening security challenges.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ademorin Kuye, the lawmaker representing Shomolu Federal Constituency in Lagos, during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Kuye called on the federal government to dismantle the country's "ransom-cash economy," strengthen financial intelligence coordination, and ensure strict enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations.
He cited reports by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and independent security research organisations, which estimated that Nigerians paid approximately **₦2.23 trillion** in ransom to kidnappers between January 2021 and June 2025.
According to Kuye, investigations by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) revealed that point-of-sale (POS) operators and other financial channels have been used to facilitate ransom payments and conceal financial trails, making it more difficult for security agencies to trace funds and prosecute offenders.
The lawmaker added that terrorist and criminal groups continue to exploit both formal and informal financial systems—including bureau de change operators, cryptocurrency platforms, livestock transactions, and trade-based money laundering schemes—to launder proceeds from ransom payments.
He warned that weak financial intelligence coordination and poor enforcement of anti-money laundering laws have heightened insecurity, undermined public confidence, and exposed Nigeria to the risk of international sanctions, including its continued placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Debate on the floor
During the debate, Bamidele Salam, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, opposed aspects of the motion, cautioning against criminalising ransom payments when the government has not adequately fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the House Committee on Navy, threw his weight behind the motion, insisting that paying ransom only emboldens kidnappers, bandits and terrorist groups to continue their criminal activities.
Gagdi proposed an amendment calling on the federal government to immediately halt the rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits into society.
"Anybody who kills deserves to be killed, except in cases such as a motor accident, where the law is clear. But if you invade innocent Nigerians' homes, kidnap them, take them into the bush, subject them to terrible torture before taking their lives, including those of traditional rulers, you don't deserve one second of survival," he said.
The lawmaker further alleged that some rehabilitated former insurgents may have been leaking intelligence to criminal groups, thereby contributing to attacks on security personnel during military operations.
His amendment was unanimously adopted after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it to a voice vote.
Also contributing to the debate, Ahmadu Jaha, who represents Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, said only families who have experienced kidnapping firsthand can truly understand the trauma victims endure.
He questioned whether lawmakers opposed to ransom payments would maintain the same stance if members of their own families were abducted.
The House's resolution comes barely a day after the Senate similarly called on the federal government to terminate the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members.
The federal government introduced the initiative in 2016 under the military-led Operation Safe Corridor, a deradicalisation and reintegration programme for former Boko Haram fighters who voluntarily surrender.
