Senator Ali Ndume says he is not in support of the bill to create an agency for repentant Boko Haram members.
Ndume said during an interview with Channels Television on Friday that he was ‘completely’ against it.
The bill, which was first read before the Senate on Thursday by its sponsor, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe East, is aimed at creating a national agency that would see to the rehabilitation, de-radicalisation, and integration of repentant insurgents in the country.
“I personally disagree with that. The war is not over and some criminals that have been killing people you say that you are doing Operation Safe Corridor for them,” Ndume, chairman of Senate Committee on Army, said.
“I am completely against that idea. They know my position on that, you can’t do that.
“It is when you win the war and some people surrender that you think about something like that.”
He added that the idea of the bill would only make Boko Haram have more recruits since they are sure of rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“You are just telling people to go and join Boko Haram and then repent and become something (sic) that’s a totally unacceptable idea and a way of solving the problem,” the lawmaker said.
