No second chances: Kaduna Gov demands total elimination of terrorists

In a fierce rejection of amnesty or dialogue, Uba Sani, Kaduna State governor, declared that terrorists have forfeited their right to live and must be completely eliminated.

Speaking on Wednesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani insisted that individuals who slaughter innocent citizens deserve zero forgiveness, drawing a hard line against rehabilitation programmes for violent extremists.

“Terrorists must be eliminated,” Sani declared, underscoring a zero-tolerance approach to the violent insurgency that has plagued Kaduna and other parts of northern Nigeria. He argued that the sheer severity of their actions warrants the ultimate punishment rather than rehabilitation, negotiation, or a second chance.

The governor’s uncompromising stance targets the ongoing national debate over how to handle repentant insurgents.

While some regions and federal programs have previously experimented with deradicalisation and surrender incentives to curb violence, Sani’s administration is firmly doubling down on a purely offensive, military-first strategy.

Kaduna State remains one of the primary frontlines battling severe insecurity, including frequent mass kidnappings, banditry, and fatal attacks on rural communities.

Governor Sani’s recent remarks reinforce his administration’s alignment with a strict, kinetic response, prioritising the total eradication of armed groups over dialogue to restore peace to the region.