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Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist and convener of Concerned Nigerians, has issued a strong condemnation of the federal government’s ongoing negotiations, pardons, and purported appeasement of bandits and terrorists. He cautioned that this strategy presents a significant danger to national security.

Adeyanju characterized the strategy of negotiating with and pardoning armed groups as equivalent to providing indirect support for terrorism in a statement issued on Monday.

He contended that terrorists do not show remorse and that banditry cannot be viewed as a miscommunication that dialogue can fix.

He believes that those engaged in terrorism and banditry should be detained, tried, and incarcerated, rather than being sheltered by government officials or given concessions as rewards.

He stated that the act of pardoning terrorists is foreign to any legitimate state and establishes a perilous precedent.

Adeyanju cautioned that actions of this kind imply that armed violence, murder, and acts that undermine national stability can be beneficial, which may motivate others to commit crimes.

He remarked that others might be encouraged to turn to violence, thinking that the government will ultimately negotiate with, compensate, or forgive them.

Adeyanju drew a comparison, stating that some of the terrorists being engaged by the government have committed crimes far more severe than those attributed to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He noted that although Kanu is charged with incitement, he has not been personally accused of murder, in contrast to terrorists who are said to have killed thousands of Nigerians.

Adeyanju pointed out that accepting such criminals weakens justice and poses a long-term threat to the foundation of Nigeria’s national security.

According to Adeyanju: “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.”

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