The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS General Olufemi Oluyede has stated that terrorists in Nigeria should be given an opportunity to repent instead of being killed.

In a recent video that has circulated widely online, the CDS described insurgents as Nigerians and likened them to “prodigal sons” who should be welcomed back into society if they abandon violence.

Addressing concerns about rehabilitation, he said, “So many people have asked the question, why do we need to rehabilitate criminals? They all should be killed because they kill people.”

He continued, “But even in the Bible, we heard about the prodigal son. If there was not that window for the man to come back…”

He added that “these are Nigerians mostly, and it’s important for us to give them that window to repent if they want, rather than pushing them to the extreme to say, okay, it’s either we will kill you or you continue with the adventure.”