House Committee Chair Calls for Execution of Bandits and Terrorists
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, has called for the elimination of arrested bandits and terrorists. Gagdi made the call during plenary on July 8, as the lower chamber moved a motion urging the Federal Government to scrap the rehabilitation and reintegration program for arrested insurgents and criminals.
Gagdi's Remarks During Debate
Speaking during the debate, Gagdi said, “Payment of ransom is an encouragement for bandits to continue to brutalize Nigerians the way they want. When you don't pay ransom and tomorrow you don't pay ransom, believe me, it will demoralize the bandits from doing what they are doing.” He added, “In addition to not paying ransom, I don't see any rationale behind rehabilitating a criminal that is killing people. When arrested, you rehabilitate him, and then he becomes an informant in the midst of our own security.”
Opposition to Rehabilitation Programs
Gagdi further stated, “Government should not rehabilitate killers. There is no reason whatsoever for kidnappers, bandits, Boko Haram to be rewarded by being trained and reintegrated into our own security system. The government should stop the rehabilitation of arrested criminals.” When asked what punishment he prefers for insurgents, Gagdi responded, “To kill them. Anybody that kills deserves to be killed except if it is a motor accident. Our law is explicit, but if you kill by coming to a citizen's house, kidnapping them, taking them to the bush, subjecting them to terrible torture before taking their lives, they do not deserve one second of survival.”
Motion to Scrap Reintegration Program
The motion moved in the House of Representatives calls on the Federal Government to end the rehabilitation and reintegration program for arrested insurgents and criminals, citing security concerns and the need to deter future attacks. The debate highlighted growing frustration among lawmakers over the persistent insecurity in Nigeria.
