THIS DAWN — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to halt ongoing negotiations with bandits and terrorists.
President Obasanjo made the remarks at an event in Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
Obasanjo criticized President Tinubu’s government for negotiating with bandits and terrorists amid rampant insecurity, including hundreds of kidnappings and deaths this year.
He pointed to Nigeria’s capacity for tracking and striking threats with drones, recalling his own administration’s abilities.
Obasanjo insisted that the country has the capacity to track and eliminate criminal elements rather than engage them in dialogue.
He questioned why the government continues to negotiate despite the availability of modern technology to apprehend offenders.
He recalled that during his administration, security agencies were able to track and arrest criminals anywhere in the country.
His comments come amid a surge in kidnappings across Nigeria, with reports indicating that more than 400 people have been abducted since mid‑November.
Among the victims were 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, one of whom remains missing.
The wave of abductions has heightened public anxiety as the holiday season approaches, with schools and major roads increasingly disrupted by banditry.
A call on the international community
President Bola Tinubu recently declared a national security emergency, rejecting negotiations with criminal groups.
However, past efforts by some state governors had involved ransom payments and dialogue with bandits, a strategy critics say emboldened the perpetrators.
Obasanjo’s intervention underscores growing frustration over the government’s handling of insecurity.
“Nigerians are being killed every day, yet the government is not doing enough to stop it,” he said.
“If the government cannot protect its people, then we have the right to call on the international community to do what our government has failed to do,” he stressed.
His words highlight ongoing frustrations as the administration declares security emergencies, while critics push for stronger action.
Security analysts note that Obasanjo’s remarks reflect a broader debate about Nigeria’s counter‑insurgency strategy.
While some argue that dialogue can reduce violence, others insist that negotiations only legitimize criminal groups and undermine state authority.
The former president’s call is expected to intensify pressure on the Tinubu administration to adopt more decisive measures.
With kidnappings and attacks escalating, stakeholders warn that failure to act could further destabilize communities and erode public confidence in government.
In the meantime, the country continues to grapple with worsening insecurity.
Obasanjo’s message resonates as both a critique of current policy and a reminder of Nigeria’s capacity to confront threats when political will aligns with effective security operations.
