Retired Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo has voiced opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to reintegrate former Boko Haram fighters into society, emphasizing his firm stance against rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals involved in terrorist activities.
He contended that individuals who have committed criminal atrocities ought to bear the consequences of their actions rather than being offered rehabilitation. Stan-Labo raised concerns about the fairness of extending preferential treatment to those involved in violence or terrorism, particularly when compared to the neglected needs of displaced persons residing in camps, who may not receive comparable levels of assistance.
He said in an interview with Punch, ”If I were the commander in chief, my instructions would have been don’t bring anybody for any damn rehabilitation; you bloody well will pay the price for whatever you have done on the battlefront.
If you want a battle, come get the battle. You have committed all kinds of atrocities and now, you turn around begging for forgiveness. We don’t have a responsibility to forgive you; you hasten your journey to heaven. Go and ask for penance. What do we tell the people in the displaced person camps, who are not even getting the kind of treatment we are giving these guys.”
In September 2023, a reported total of 2,168 former Boko Haram members purportedly underwent de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs at the camp located in the Kwami local government area of Gombe state over the past eight years.
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