FG’s vow against negotiating with terrorists

President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s uncompromising stance against negotiating with kidnappers, terrorists and other violent criminal groups, declaring that Nigeria would never pay ransom or release detained criminals in exchange for abducted victims. The President had in his June 12 Democracy Day address warned terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state, adding that no mercy would be shown to those responsible for the killing and abduction of Nigerians.

The President’s pronouncement is courageous and need to be matched with commensurate actions. It came amid renewed efforts by the federal government to curb kidnappings, banditry and terrorism that have plagued many parts of the country in recent times.

The President stated this when he received traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the State House, Abuja, following the release of 45 children and teachers abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. The rescue came after the hostages were held in captivity for about 56 days.

According to Tinubu, the kidnappers of the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers demanded both money and the release of their imprisoned gang members, but the government ignored the terrorists’ requests on grounds that Nigeria will neither pay ransom nor exchange detained criminals for victims kidnapped by terrorists and gangs. “We refused to negotiate with criminals. They wanted us to release members of their criminal gangs already in detention in addition to demanding money, but we said no deal. We will not negotiate with murderers and terrorists,” he emphasised.

The declaration by the President is heartwarming. No self-respecting government negotiates with terrorists. It is dangerous to negotiate with terrorists or their sponsors. Terrorists operate on the frameworks of entitlement and blackmail. They do not keep to their terms but rather ask for more concessions. They can hardly be appeased or bought off. The more terrorists are placated, the higher they raise their nuisance threshold. That is the same character trait of bandits and kidnappers. Terrorists only yield to the language of force and superior action.

The government is right in vowing not to pay ransom or negotiate with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers. Kidnapping for ransom has become a thriving industry. The best way to curb kidnapping is to refuse to pay ransom to the criminals involved in the nefarious business. The kidnappers now target schools, highways and rural communities. Peaceful deals with the terrorists in the past did not work. Moreover, the deradicalisation and reintegrating of repented terrorists into the society has not been effective in curbing terrorism. Unfortunately, some of the so-called repentant terrorists later went back to their old ways and unleashed mayhem on some Nigerians.

The government should wage a relentless war on the terrorists and subdue them. The growing insecurity across the country calls for new strategies to overcome it. The recent call by ex-Generals for a more decisive approach to tackling insecurity in the country deserves serious attention by the government. The Generals comprising friends and associates of the late director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Rabe (retd), who died in captivity, noted that terrorist and bandit groups were unlikely to voluntarily disband through negotiations, stressing that a more aggressive and coordinated strategy is required to dismantle their operations and restore peace. Other security experts have also argued that ransom payments encourage further kidnappings by providing funds for the purchase of weapons and recruitment of additional fighters.

These recommendations are in line with the President’s posture. It however goes beyond declaration or asking the people not to pay ransom over abducted relations. Government should work to defeat terrorists. The restructuring of the country’s security architecture by expanding the Nigerian Army formations from eight to 12 divisions to improve operational coverage and significantly reduce response time to security threats is a step in the right direction. The expansion should form part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s security arrangements.

There is also the need for enhanced intelligence gathering, since it remains central to the fight against insecurity. Ongoing efforts at strengthening local security structures through the establishment of state police with adequate safeguards against abuse should be followed through. It is encouraging that the Presidency and National Assembly are working together to achieve the lofty objective. The necessary reforms to make the project work should be put in place. Similar actions should be extended in optimising the operational capacity of Forest Guards to eliminate criminal elements from the forests and other ungoverned spaces. Let the security agents be adequately motivated and mobilised to carry out their functions effectively.