The Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have strongly condemned the Nigerian government’s policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating “repentant bandits” into society and national security structures.
The bishops described the policy as a distortion of justice and an insult to victims of violent crimes across the country.
They also called for the immediate release of 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted from three schools in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, more than a month ago.
The clerics made their position known in a statement jointly signed by the President of the Province, Most Rev. Gabriel Leke Abegunrin, and its Secretary, Most Rev. Anselm Lawani, and read by the Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo.
According to them, the practice of rehabilitating former bandits while victims and their families continue to suffer sends a dangerous message to society.
The bishops posited that such policies undermine confidence in the justice system and risk encouraging further criminality.
“The ongoing reintegration of so-called repentant bandits into security agencies and society, while victims of crime and their families are neglected, rubs dirt on the face of justice,” the statement read.
The clerics insisted that justice requires that kidnappers, bandits and other violent offenders be made to face the full consequences of their actions rather than being rewarded through rehabilitation programmes.
They warned that failure to ensure accountability could embolden further attacks on innocent citizens and weaken national security.
The bishops linked their concerns to the worsening security situation in the country, citing the prolonged captivity of the abducted Oriire pupils and teachers as evidence that victims often suffer while perpetrators appear to benefit from leniency.
While calling for the immediate release of the abductees, they urged the Federal and Oyo State Governments to strengthen efforts to restore public safety and confidence.
They also advocated comprehensive security reforms, including improved intelligence gathering, better policing of forests, deployment of modern technology, and the creation of state police.
According to them, state policing would enable quicker response to local threats, improve intelligence at community level and strengthen collaboration between security agencies and residents, provided there are proper safeguards and oversight.
The bishops stressed that national healing and unity cannot be achieved without justice, accountability and adequate support for victims of crime.
They concluded by urging government at all levels to prioritise the welfare of victims and ensure that those responsible for kidnapping, banditry and terrorism are prosecuted in accordance with the law, while also calling on Nigerians to pray for the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
