The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a scathing response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s condemnation of the recent suicide bomb blast in Borno State, which claimed multiple lives.
“The government’s actions have contributed to the continued threat of terrorism in the region,” said Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA. “The release of so-called repentant Boko Haram terrorists without prosecution and stringent punitive measures is a recipe for disaster.”
In a statement released on Sunday, President Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, conveyed the President’s condolences to the victims’ families and the Borno State Government, describing the attacks as “desperate acts of terror.” However, HURIWA has labeled the President’s response as “presidential crocodile tears.”
“The government’s deradicalization and reintegration programs have been ineffective in preventing recidivism among former terrorists,” Onwubiko argued. “Research has shown that deradicalizing terrorists with extreme religious ideologies is a complex and challenging process.”
HURIWA cited statistics from the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, which revealed that between 2016 and 2022, 1,935 Boko Haram terrorists were released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State, and 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State. Additionally, over 2,000 Boko Haram members surrendered between 2016 and 2017 under Operation Safe Corridor.
“The rapid reintegration of former terrorists into communities without thorough and prolonged deradicalization can lead to recidivism, undermining national security efforts,” Onwubiko warned.
HURIWA asserted that President Tinubu’s national security strategy has failed miserably, and that the current administration and its service chiefs are inept and grossly incompetent.
“The government’s leniency towards terrorists is contrasted with its harsh actions in the South East, where mass killings of youths under the guise of combating IPOB have been reported,” Onwubiko said. “Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, remains in detention as a political prisoner.”
HURIWA called on the government to adopt a more stringent approach towards terrorists, including prosecution and severe punitive measures.
“The government must prioritize the safety and security of all Nigerians,” Onwubiko emphasized. “We need a comprehensive and robust approach to combating terrorism, one that ensures justice for victims and prevents the resurgence of extremist threats in Nigeria.”
