Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to imprisoned Nnamdi Kanu and a key legal voice for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has cautioned Nigerian authorities against what he described as a dangerous soft approach to terrorism, insisting that the idea of a “repentant terrorist” is misleading and risky.
Ejimakor made the strong statement while reacting to reports of worsening jihadist violence in Mali, including the killing of Mali’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara, during a wave of coordinated attacks by armed extremist groups.
According to multiple reports, General Camara died from injuries sustained after terrorists launched a deadly assault on his residence in Kati, a heavily fortified military town located about 15 kilometres from Mali’s capital, Bamako. 
The attack reportedly involved a suicide car bomb explosion and was part of a broader offensive targeting military installations across the country. The assaults were said to have been carried out by an al-Qaeda-linked group working alongside Tuareg rebel fighters.
The development came less than 24 hours after his residence in the strategic garrison town had come under heavy attack, highlighting the worsening security crisis in northern Mali.
Reacting to the incident in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Ejimakor drew comparisons between Mali’s deteriorating security situation and Nigeria’s own counterterrorism policies, warning that leniency toward extremist fighters could eventually backfire.
“As terrorists have overrun northern Mali & poised to capture its capital, it proves that soft-pedalling on terror, as Mali was previously doing, always backfires,” he wrote.
He further argued that Nigerian authorities must abandon any belief in the rehabilitation of insurgents, especially former members of extremist groups such as Boko Haram.
“Nigerian authorities should know that there’s no such thing as a ‘repentant’ terrorist. Mali is a stark example,” he added.
His comments come amid continued national debate over the Federal Government’s deradicalisation and reintegration programme for former insurgents, particularly ex-Boko Haram fighters who surrendered under initiatives like Operation Safe Corridor.
The programme, which aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate former fighters into society, has remained controversial, with critics warning that allowing such individuals back into communities could pose serious long-term security threats.
Supporters of the initiative, however, argue that it forms part of a broader peace-building strategy designed to weaken insurgent groups by encouraging defections and reducing battlefield violence.
The worsening violence in Mali and across the wider Sahel region has intensified concerns across West Africa about the growing influence of extremist networks and the possibility of further regional instability.
Ejimakor’s remarks have added fresh momentum to the already divisive national conversation on how Nigeria should handle terrorism, particularly as insecurity continues to affect several parts of the country and public trust in security policies remains under pressure.
