Enugu Anglican Bishop Urges FG To End Reintegration Of Repentant Terrorists

Anglican Bishop Samuel Ike urges the Federal Government to stop reintegrating repentant terrorists and prosecute those responsible for acts of terror.

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, has called on the Federal Government to immediately end the reintegration of repentant terrorists into society, insisting that those responsible for acts of terror should be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.

Delivering his State of the Nation address at the ongoing 3rd Session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Enugu yesterday, the bishop argued that terrorists should not be rewarded with reintegration after committing atrocities against Nigerians.

He said the President should be commended for increasing military funding and restructuring the nation’s security architecture but stressed that more decisive measures were needed to curb the worsening insecurity.

“The President must go a step further by removing and sanctioning all members of his cabinet who are sympathetic to terrorists, including those who refer to them as ‘our brothers.’ The term ‘Boko Haram insurgents’ should be dropped from government vocabulary. They are terrorists and should be addressed as such,” he said.

According to him, while citizens have been sentenced to death or prosecuted for lesser offences, terrorists responsible for mass killings and destruction should equally face justice instead of being reintegrated into society.

Bishop Ike also criticised the National Assembly for failing to make security its top priority, saying it was embarrassing that lawmakers in the United States appeared to be leading calls for improved security in Nigeria.

“We cannot continue to lose our military generals and gallant soldiers in the theatre of war, nor watch women and children herded into captivity. Nigeria has risen from sixth to fourth on the 2026 Global Terrorism Index,” he said.

The cleric further urged the Federal Government to sanction social media platforms that allow terrorist groups to spread fear and propaganda through their services. Citing reports by Amnesty International, he said at least 1,100 Nigerians were abducted in the first three months of 2026, while recalling recent attacks, including the abduction of candidates travelling for the 2026 JAMB examination in Benue State and deadly attacks in Plateau State.

“These innocent citizens are subjected to torture, starvation, amputation, rape and other inhuman treatment. If urgent and decisive action is not taken, we may realise too late that indeed ‘there was a country’,” he warned, referencing Chinua Achebe.

The bishop warned that the country’s security challenges could undermine the 2027 general elections if Nigerians were not adequately protected.

“Our politicians must avoid overheating the polity ahead of the elections,” he said. “The Independent National Electoral Commission must also provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.”