Human rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju has strongly criticised the Nigerian government over its policy of negotiating with, pardoning, and allegedly compensating terrorists and armed bandits, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to national security.
In a statement released on Monday, Adeyanju described the government’s approach as dangerous, irresponsible, and unheard of in any serious nation, arguing that terrorism and banditry cannot be resolved through dialogue or appeasement.
According to him, the continued negotiation, payment of ransoms, forgiveness, and reintegration of armed groups that have terrorised communities across Nigeria only emboldens criminals and sends the wrong message to law-abiding citizens.
Adeyanju warned that these actions amount to indirect financing of terrorism, insisting that terrorists do not truly repent and that banditry is not a misunderstanding that can be settled at negotiation tables.
He stressed that armed bandits and terrorists are hardened criminals responsible for mass killings, kidnappings, destruction of livelihoods, and the displacement of thousands of Nigerians, adding that such individuals should be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed, rather than rewarded or hosted by the state.
The activist further warned that pardoning terrorists sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine the country’s stability and security, arguing that it creates the impression that violence pays and may encourage more Nigerians to take up arms.
In highlighting what he described as selective justice, Adeyanju compared the government’s treatment of terrorists with the continued detention and prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He argued that while Kanu faces severe state action over allegations of incitement, individuals responsible for killing thousands of Nigerians are being welcomed, pardoned, and rehabilitated.
Adeyanju concluded that such inconsistencies weaken public confidence in the rule of law and threaten the foundation of national security, warning that no country can endure when those who kill citizens are rewarded while peaceful citizens remain unprotected.
