Opinion
Justice For Victims Before Compassion For Criminals By Yahaya Abdulrahman The recent rescue of Haj. Amina Abubakar, wife of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, from the captivity of bandits is undoubtedly welcome news. It brings some measure of relief after a tragic ordeal that claimed the life of a distinguished military officer who dedicated years of his life to the service of Nigeria. However, her rescue also raises an important question that policymakers must honestly confront. How would Haj. Amina feel if she were told today that the very criminals who abducted her and her husband, subjected them to untold suffering, and ultimately caused his death, could one day be pardoned, rehabilitated, reintegrated into society, empowered with government support, and presented as beneficiaries of public goodwill ?. She is not alone in this painful experience. Across Nigeria, thousands of innocent citizens have endured similar or even worse horrors at the hands of insurgents...