Human rights activist cum convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has stated that the federal government’s continued negotiation, payment, forgiveness and appeasement of bandits and terrorists amounts to indirect financing of terrorism.
Naijaonpoint reports that Adejanju, in a statement on Monday, argued that terrorists do not repent and that banditry is not a misunderstanding that can be resolved through dialogue, warning that the approach poses a serious threat to national security.
Adejanju emphasised that individuals involved in terrorism and banditry should be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned, rather than being hosted by government officials or rewarded with concessions.
According to him, appeasing terrorists through such actions sends a message that taking up arms, killing citizens and destabilising the country can yield rewards, thereby encouraging more people to engage in criminal activities.
Adeyanju also claimed that some of the terrorists being engaged by the government have committed worse crimes than the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
He said, “The continued negotiation, payment, forgiveness, and appeasement of bandits and terrorists by the government amounts to indirect financing of terrorism.
“Terrorists do not repent, and banditry is not a misunderstanding that can be settled across negotiation tables. These are criminals who should be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed, not hosted in Government Houses or rewarded with concessions.
“The idea of forgiving terrorists is alien to any serious state; it sets a dangerous precedent and sends the message that taking up arms, killing citizens, and destabilizing the country pays.
“It encourages more criminality, as others will be emboldened to bear arms knowing the government will eventually negotiate, compensate, and beg them.
“These terrorists have committed far worse crimes than Nnamdi Kanu for example, who, whatever the allegations of incitement, did not physically kill anyone.
“Yet thousands of Nigerians have been slaughtered by terrorists who are now being embraced by our government. This approach undermines the idea of justice and it threatens the foundation of national security in the long run.”