The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Federal Government was negotiating with bandits instead of tackling insecurity, warning that such an approach exposes the country’s vulnerability and emboldens criminals.
Speaking on ‘Politics Today’ on Channel Television, ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, highlighted the increasing spate of attacks across Nigeria, particularly in border areas and northern states.
Abdullahi linked the surge in attacks to global attention being enjoyed by criminals, following the recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump.
“It appeared that after President Trump made that statement of designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on 31 October, the criminal elements, the bandits and the insurgents, saw that they could actually put their finger on a particular pressure point of our nation. And because they got global attention.
“Apart from killing people, they also wanted to be reported, and that’s why they came out to claim that we did this. So in the aftermath of that statement, we saw an escalation in attacks,” he added that “terrorism without attention is nothing.”
The ADC spokesperson also criticised government officials for what he described as misleading narratives around the handling of kidnappings.
He cited statements by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, suggesting that some kidnappers released their victims voluntarily.
“What we are also disturbed about is that the government is not being honest with Nigerians. I listened to the IGP of Police, Egbetokun, who said the reason they did not arrest these kidnappers was that they came out by themselves and volunteered by themselves.”
Abdullahi also referenced the comment by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that security agencies were fully aware of the identities and locations of the bandit groups responsible for recent mass abductions, including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.
According to Onanuga, although security operatives have the necessary intelligence, their operations are often constrained by the risk of collateral damage to civilians held by the bandits.
Abdullahi said, “Bayo Onanuga is someone I have a lot of respect for because of the work he has done in the media, but sometimes I think when he talks, he talks as if he’s addressing morons. Because when you say that all you did was ask them nicely and they released the captives, it insults the intelligence of right-thinking people,” he said.
He stressed that the Federal Government is effectively negotiating with insurgents, a practice he warned is “not strategic and unsustainable.”
“The government is making deals with insurgents. Perhaps there may be different considerations, but because they want a quick win, they want something to celebrate, they will not hesitate to make the kind of negotiations or deals that they are doing. They are doing deals with insurgents; they can’t deny that,” Abdullahi said.
Highlighting the risks of this approach, Abdullahi said this will lead to repeated abductions. “You see what happened in Ekiti local government (Kwara State), after the release of the Eruku churchgoers, what happened the following day? The very next day, they went to Isapa, a neighbouring community, and abducted 11 people. Up to now, those 11 people are still in captivity.
“That is the danger of making deals with kidnappers, with criminals and terrorists. Because when you make this with them, you are actually admitting that you are powerless,” he warned.
While Abdullahi acknowledged that the government intended to secure the quick release of the kidnapped victims, he, however, cautioned that such short-term solutions showcase weakness and encourage further criminal activity.
