By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja, Nigeria — Rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju has strongly criticised what he described as the continued negotiation, appeasement, and alleged pardon of terrorists and bandits by the government, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security and could encourage more citizens to take up arms.
In a statement on Monday, Adeyanju argued that negotiating with armed groups, paying ransoms, or granting forgiveness to terrorists amounts to indirect financing of terrorism. He insisted that banditry and terrorism are criminal acts that cannot be resolved through dialogue or concessions.
“Bandits and terrorists are not misguided individuals who can be pacified through negotiations. They are criminals who should be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed—not welcomed into Government Houses or rewarded with concessions,” he said.
Adeyanju warned that forgiving terrorists is incompatible with the principles of a serious and responsible state, stressing that such actions set a dangerous precedent. According to him, the practice sends a signal that taking up arms, killing innocent citizens, and destabilising the country could eventually lead to negotiation, compensation, or amnesty.
“This approach emboldens others to embrace criminality, knowing that the government will ultimately negotiate, compensate, and plead with them,” he added.
The activist further questioned what he described as inconsistencies in the government’s approach to justice, comparing the treatment of terrorists with that of detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
“These terrorists have committed crimes far worse than those attributed to Nnamdi Kanu, who, regardless of allegations of incitement, did not physically kill anyone. Yet thousands of Nigerians have been slaughtered by terrorists who are now being embraced by the government,” Adeyanju stated.
He cautioned that such policies undermine justice and erode public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.
“This approach weakens the foundations of justice and poses a long-term threat to Nigeria’s national security,” Adeyanju concluded.
