Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has defended the military’s controversial policy of allowing terrorists the opportunity to surrender and repent rather than resorting immediately to lethal force.
His remarks, delivered at the Nigerian Armed Forces’ inaugural lecture at the Joint Doctrine Centre in Abuja, have caused outrage across the country, particularly among citizens who have witnessed the devastating toll of insurgent violence.
“People are asking why we are not killing terrorists even if they have killed others,” Oluyede said. “Well, even in the Bible, the prodigal son was given a chance, so we should give terrorists a chance to repent if they want to.”
He explained that many insurgents are Nigerians, and offering them a pathway to repentance could help break the cycle of violence.
“Because these are Nigerians mostly, it is important for us to give them that window to repent rather than pushing them to the extreme that it’s either we kill you, or you continue with your adventure,” he added.
These groups have killed hundreds of soldiers, some of whom were decapitated on video, and have carried out kidnappings, rapes, and mass killings of civilians.
The scale of atrocities has drawn international concern, and Oluyede’s comments echo sentiments expressed weeks earlier by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who controversially described terrorists as “our brothers.”
Public reaction has been swift, with some commentators viewing the policy as strategic, arguing that not all insurgents are hardened extremists.
Okoye Sunday Vincent wrote: “Giving terrorists a chance to repent is bold, but it’s also strategic. Not everyone involved is a hardened extremist; some are trapped or misled. Mercy can save lives, but it must be paired with accountability. Justice and peace must go hand in hand.”
Others, however, condemned the stance as dangerous and insensitive to victims.
Faith Obiorah commented: “Sometimes, you’ll wonder if these people are even mentally okay with what comes out of their mouth.”
Phonomobile expressed outrage: “This is insane. While people are being slaughtered and communities terrorised, the military is talking about giving killers a ‘chance to repent’? How is that supposed to protect ordinary Nigerians? Families are losing loved ones, homes are being destroyed, and yet the priority seems to be mercy for those causing the bloodshed. Enough of excuses, saving the lives of ordinary Nigerians must take priority over offering mercy to killers.”
Etitimfon Developer added: “I don’t care if you kill them or not. My own view is that it should stop in Yorubaland. If they should cross to South South and Southeast, we’ll treat them as terrorists that they are and do the needful.”
Stephen Nweme criticised the biblical analogy: “There is no instance in the Bible that the prodigal son was moving around killing people. Those terrorising Nigerians can’t be likened to the biblical prodigal son because they’ve literally been ransacking villages and killing people. The prodigal son’s wrongdoing was personal and moral, not violent or destructive.”
Other voices were equally scathing. Tifè flame wrote: “This is how we end up with a lot of terrorists in Nigeria. Why are you giving them a second chance to repent when they know exactly what they are doing? Or should I say you are their backbone?”
M.O.A.B added: “They should never be given a chance. Did they give their victims a chance? What kinda country is this for fvck sake?”
NM argued: “The Chief of Army Staff just cited the Prodigal Son to justify not killing terrorists. The Prodigal Son left on his own. Came back on his own. Repented on his own. Nobody was being bombed while his father waited. This is not theology. This is negligence dressed in scripture.”
Mr Austine Ikebunna questioned: “The people these terrorists killed, were they given a chance to repent? The terrorist guys are politically motivated, and some are by these so-called military generals. It is so bad that it has gotten to this level.”
Mojisola added, “This is pure nonsense. Terrorists who’ve slaughtered thousands of Nigerians don’t deserve a ‘prodigal son’ pass. They deserve justice. Stop romanticising mercy for monsters while citizens suffer.”
Mr Washington recalled past military crackdowns: “Remember when military men died in Odi in Bayelsa State under Obasanjo, and the military wiped out almost every man in Odi? But in the North, military personnel are being slaughtered like rats, and a general is compromising the case and calling for repentance. During Buhari’s tenure, he deployed military personnel to Abia State to conduct Operation Crocodile Smile. Both Odi and Abia didn’t have terrorists, yet the case was double standard.”
Oluwatosin wrote: “The prodigal son wasted his papa’s money, not innocent lives. He didn’t slaughter villages, kidnap schoolgirls or wear army uniforms after killing soldiers. Comparing cold-blooded terrorists to the prodigal son is not wisdom; it’s wickedness.”
Funique added: “With all due respect to the CDS, comparing terrorists who murder innocent Nigerians to the biblical prodigal son is deeply misguided. The prodigal son squandered his inheritance and returned in genuine remorse, not after slaughtering families and destroying communities.”
FireFly was sarcastic: “They should stop wasting our resources trying to fight them. They should just leave them to operate, and when they’re done killing all the civilians in the north and the military guys, then they should now come out and repent.”
Utdbabs@mrbabsSnr said: “So the people these terrorists have killed are not Nigerians? These terrorists are more Nigerian than Nigerians who can’t defend themselves? The Nigerian military is a big sham. Countries are bombing terrorists. Nigeria is rebranding them.”
CHAPMAN@Bamshak_ also has something to say.
“Soft approaches to hardened terror only embolden more violence. These guys are radicals already, and Justice must be strict on them. Rehabilitation has its place, but not at the expense of deterrence and accountability. Nigeria deserves security, not hesitation.”
TheTestamentPodcast@TheTestame45349 asked sarcastically, “…what would happen to the supposed repentant bandits? You will reintegrate them into society and the military. Offer them jobs, pay them a monthly wage, and provide relief materials for them, like food and shelter. These are benefits Nigerians do not get. The so-called repentant bandits will set an ambush for our military, take up their arms and run back to their vomits. Who are these generals? Who are these people that the interests of the insurgents are more important than the Nigerians being killed daily?”
