A bill seeking to establish an agency for rehabilitation of repentant insurgents has passed first reading at the senate.
The short title of the bill reads: “National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalisation and Integration of repentant insurgents in Nigeria”.
The bill is sponsored by Ibrahim Gaidam, senator representing Yobe east.
The proposed law was introduced after Nelson Ayewoh, clerk of the senate, read the short title of the bill on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Thursday.
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There were mixed reactions from senators after Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy senate president, hit the gavel approving the bill for first reading.
The federal government has been criticised for releasing some “repentant” Boko Haram insurgents.
About 1,400 suspected insurgents have been reportedly rehabilitated and released.
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Some soldiers had expressed concern about the development and wondered why the federal government would release the suspects in large numbers.
In an interview with journalists, Kashima Shettima, senator representing Borno central, had described the recent attacks in his state as a “temporary hiccup”.
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