Obasanjo to FG: Stop Apologising, Negotiating With Terrorists

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected calls for dialogue with bandits, urging the Federal Government to adopt decisive measures and seek international support to tackle the worsening insecurity across the country.

Speaking on Friday at the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival in Jos, Obasanjo criticised the government for negotiating and apologising to terrorists, noting that such approaches only embolden criminal groups. His comments come amid a surge in killings, abductions, and attacks on communities in the North.

Recent incidents include the November 21 abduction of 315 students and 13 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the earlier kidnapping of 26 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. In another attack, bandits raided Palaita community in Shiroro LGA of Niger State, abducting 24 people, including pregnant women, from a rice farm.

Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, about 20 people were also kidnapped in separate attacks in Kano and Kwara states. This followed the release of 38 worshippers abducted from Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, after the Federal Government reportedly negotiated with their captors. In another incident on Tuesday, 10 people including a pregnant woman, nursing mothers, and children were seized in Isapa community near Eruku, Kwara State.

Expressing frustration over the deteriorating security situation, Obasanjo argued that Nigerians have the right to seek help from the international community if the government fails in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

“No matter your religion, your origin, or your profession, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems incapable of protecting us,” he said. “If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot.”

Obasanjo added that advancements in modern technology have made it easier to track and eliminate terrorists, questioning why the government is not deploying available resources.

“Before I left office, we had the capacity to identify and locate any criminal in Nigeria. What we lacked was the ability to apprehend them without moving by land or air. Now we have that capacity. With drones, we can take them out. Why are we not doing that? Why are we apologising? Why are we negotiating?” he asked.