The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to terminate the rehabilitation of repentant terrorists. This decision followed the passage of a motion during plenary on Wednesday. The motion was moved by Rep. Kuye, who cited concerns over the growing ransom-cash economy fuelled by terrorist activities. According to the lawmaker, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and independent security research organisations indicate that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between January 2021 and June 2025.
Kuye stated that investigations by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, under the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), revealed that point-of-sale (POS) operators and other financial channels are being used to process ransom payments and obscure financial trails. These practices, he said, have hampered law enforcement efforts and the recovery of funds. Rep. Ademorin added that criminal and terrorist groups are exploiting formal and informal financial systems, including bureau de change operators, cryptocurrency platforms, livestock transactions, and trade-based money laundering schemes.
He emphasized that weak financial intelligence coordination and inadequate enforcement of anti-money laundering laws have worsened security threats and weakened public trust. The lawmakers urged the federal government to dismantle the ransom economy, enhance coordination among financial intelligence agencies, and enforce compliance with anti-money laundering frameworks. No official response from the executive arm has been made public.
The House's call to end rehabilitation for repentant terrorists shifts focus from reintegration to punishment, despite no data in the motion showing that rehabilitated individuals have reoffended. The emphasis on financial channels like POS and cryptocurrency ignores whether these systems are being monitored or regulated in real time. Lawmakers cited ransom figures up to June 2025, a date still in the future, raising questions about the source and accuracy of the data. This undermines the credibility of the motion's foundation.
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