The House of Representatives on Wednesday joined the Senate in calling on the Federal Government to end the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) on dismantling the ransom economy, strengthening financial intelligence and enforcing anti-money laundering laws.
Moving the motion, Kuye said reports by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and independent security organisations estimated that Nigerians paid about 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 showed that some Point-of-Sale (POS) operators and other financial channels were being used to facilitate ransom payments and conceal financial trails.
Kuye also warned that criminal groups were exploiting Bureau De Change operators, cryptocurrency platforms, livestock transactions and other informal financial systems to launder ransom proceeds.
During the debate, Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), supported the motion, saying continued payment of ransom had encouraged kidnappers and bandits to sustain their activities.
He proposed an amendment urging the government to discontinue the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.
“Those who invade communities, kidnap innocent Nigerians and kill security personnel do not deserve rehabilitation,” he said, alleging that some rehabilitated insurgents might be leaking intelligence to criminal groups.
The amendment was adopted through a voice vote presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
However, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), cautioned against criminalising ransom payments, arguing that many families paid to save the lives of abducted relatives.
Similarly, Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno) said only those whose relatives had been kidnapped understood the dilemma faced by victims’ families.
He also urged the government to provide rehabilitation and psychosocial support for rescued kidnap victims.
On Tuesday, the Senate also called on the Federal Government to discontinue the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members, which was launched in 2016 under Operation Safe Corridor.