A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has said persons convicted of killing innocent Nigerians in the name of banditry, terrorism or violent crime should face the death penalty rather than rehabilitation.
Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, spoke against the backdrop of worsening insecurity and renewed debates over the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons linked to violent attacks.
The lawmaker, according to reports, argued that while rehabilitation may be considered for those who committed lesser offences or were misled into criminal networks, persons who have been convicted of killing innocent citizens should not be treated with leniency.
He said any person found guilty by a competent court of murdering citizens should face the full weight of the law, including the death penalty where the offence attracts capital punishment.
Gagdi said the Nigerian state must send a clear message that those who shed innocent blood cannot simply be rehabilitated and returned to society while victims’ families continue to live with pain, trauma and loss.
According to him, the repeated killing of farmers, villagers, worshippers, travellers and security personnel across parts of the country calls for justice, deterrence and decisive enforcement of the law.
He maintained that rehabilitation should not become a blanket policy that allows hardened killers to escape accountability.
The lawmaker said victims of insecurity and their families deserve justice, stressing that any security or reconciliation policy that ignores accountability would deepen public anger and weaken confidence in government.
Gagdi said Nigerians who have lost relatives to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal attacks cannot be expected to accept a system where killers are merely deradicalised, pardoned or reintegrated without facing trial.
He argued that justice must come before reintegration, especially in cases involving murder, mass killings and destruction of communities.
The Plateau lawmaker said the death penalty remains part of Nigeria’s criminal justice system for certain grave offences and should be enforced against those lawfully convicted of murder.
He added that government must strengthen investigation, prosecution and conviction processes so that those responsible for killings are properly identified, tried and punished according to law.
Gagdi’s position comes amid continuing public debate over the handling of repentant insurgents, bandits and other violent offenders.
Successive governments have defended rehabilitation and deradicalisation programmes as part of broader counterinsurgency strategies, especially for low-risk individuals and those who voluntarily surrender.
However, many Nigerians, particularly communities affected by terrorism, banditry and mass killings, have repeatedly questioned the morality and security implications of reintegrating persons suspected to have taken part in violent attacks.
Critics of blanket rehabilitation argue that victims are often left without compensation, protection or closure, while perpetrators appear to receive state support.
Gagdi said government must prioritise victims, restore confidence in the justice system and ensure that serious offenders are not rewarded with soft treatment.
He also called for stronger security operations, improved intelligence gathering and better support for communities affected by insecurity.
The lawmaker said the fight against insecurity should not be reduced to political rhetoric, insisting that every level of government must demonstrate seriousness in protecting lives and property.
He said the National Assembly would continue to engage with security agencies and relevant institutions on measures needed to tackle violent crime and protect vulnerable communities.
Gagdi’s comments are expected to generate further debate, especially among human rights advocates, security experts and victims’ groups, over how Nigeria should balance rehabilitation, justice, deterrence and constitutional safeguards in the fight against insecurity.
For him, however, the central issue remains accountability.
He insisted that those who deliberately take innocent lives should not be rehabilitated at the expense of justice, but should be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.
