Militants are my foes, not brethren, says Ochereome Nnanna

The legacy of late President Muhammadu Buhari is marked by profound failure, with his tenure defined by numerous institutional abuses, notably Operation Safe Corridor, OPSC, which was initiated in May 2015 and fully activated by September 2016.

n

This programme, designed to “rehabilitate and reintegrate” so-called repentant jihadists, was a betrayal of his primary campaign promise to achieve a total military defeat of Boko Haram, instead offering a mechanism to circumvent justice in favour of Islamic terrorists.

n

The administration's characterization of OPSC as a “non-kinetic” component of counter-insurgency is disputed, as it is seen as a means to favour Islamic terrorists who have committed heinous crimes, including slaughtering innocent Nigerians and ambushing soldiers.

n

These terrorists, responsible for displacing three million Nigerians and denying an entire generation of children their right to education, deserve no mercy and should face maximum sentences for their atrocities.

n

However, the Buhari regime pampered them, providing them with comfortable living arrangements and celebrating their return, sparking suspicion and distrust among the public.

n

The military authorities' denial of absorbing these outcasts into the security forces has not alleviated concerns, particularly given the perception that the regime promoted armed attacks on indigenous communities by Fulani herdsmen and terrorist groups.

n

The strategic fallout of this “soft-landing” policy has been catastrophic, with OPSC providing a breathing room for Abubakar Shekau’s Boko Haram to establish a new front in Niger State and enabling other jihadist groups to seize territory in Kwara and Kogi.

n

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, thousands of young men from the North moved to the South, hiding in trucks and marching into forests, raising concerns about sleeper cells poised to strike.

n

Many believe these elements now constitute a threat, and the damage was done when Buhari pushed policies to force Nigerians to yield their ancestral lands to accommodate his Fulani tribesmen from all over Africa.

n

A notable incident involved Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, who claimed that “repentant” Boko Haram members could occupy any office, including the Presidency, after draining N32 trillion from the national treasury and slaughtering for 17 years.

n

Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluleye doubled down on this statement, comparing mass murderers to the “Prodigal Son” of the Bible, a comparison that is theologically and morally perverse.

n

The Prodigal Son's story is one of repentance and humility, not of slaughtering neighbours, burning villages, or kidnapping sisters, highlighting the shamelessness of the Army chiefs' PR campaign.

n

The adoption of an apologetic refrain by Nigerian Army officers, similar to that of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for Fulani terrorists, raises questions about their loyalty and protective instincts towards civilians.

n

OPSC is a bankrupt military strategy that has not ended the war but allowed it to diversify and spread, prompting hopes that President Bola Tinubu would dismantle it and strike insurgents with the full weight of the state.

n

Unfortunately, President Tinubu has curated the Buhari legacy, dashing hopes for a change in strategy, and it is no surprise that global powers like the United States and Israel are watching Nigeria's internal security with concern.

n

These global powers understand the implications of Islamists gaining strength in the “Giant of Africa,” making the entire West vulnerable, and it is imperative to recognize that terrorists are not “our brothers” but enemies who cannot be defeated with a soft spot.

n

Those who push the narrative of brotherhood with butchers should be investigated, as this is not the spirit of a warrior, and a different approach is needed to address the terrorist threat in Nigeria.