The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to end the rehabilitation of repentant terrorists.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ademorin Kuye, lawmaker representing Shomolu federal constituency in Lagos, during plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Kuye said the federal government must dismantle the ransom-cash economy, strengthen financial intelligence coordination, and enforce compliance with anti-money-laundering frameworks.
The lawmaker said reports by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and independent security research organisations estimated that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between January 2021 and June 2025.
He said investigations by the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) found that point-of-sale (POS) operators and other financial channels are used to facilitate ransom payments and conceal financial trails, thereby hindering recovery efforts and law enforcement investigations.
Ademorin said criminal and terrorist groups continued 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 ransom proceeds.
He warned that weak financial intelligence coordination and poor enforcement of anti-money laundering laws have heightened security threats, eroded public confidence, and increased the risk of international sanctions as well as Nigeria’s continued placement on the financial action task force grey list.
Bamidele Salam, chairman of the house committee on public accounts, opposed the motion, cautioned against criminalising the payment of ransom when the government has not adequately protected lives and property.
Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee on navy, supported the motion, noting that paying ransom to Kidnappers and bandits only encourage them to continue their crimes.
The lawmaker proposed an amendment to the motion, urging the government to end 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 legislator claimed that some rehabilitated former insurgents could be leaking information to criminal groups, contributing to attacks on security personnel during operations.
Gagdi’s amendment was unanimously adopted by the parliament when Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, subjected it to a voice vote.
Ahmadu Jaha, lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok federal constituency, said only those whose relatives were held captive truly understand the pain of abduction.
He questioned whether lawmakers opposing ransom payments would maintain the same position if their own relatives were kidnapped.
On Tuesday, the senate asked the federal government to discontinue the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members.
The federal government launched the rehabilitation programme for repentant terrorists in 2016 under the military-led initiative known as Operation Safe Corridor.
