Pampering Terrorists Encourages More Criminality — Adeyanju

Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has strongly criticised the some State Governments’ continued negotiation and reconciliation with bandits and terrorists, warning that the approach posed a grave threat to national security and could encourage more Nigerians to take up arms.

In a statement on Monday, Adeyanju described the government’s actions as dangerous and counterproductive, arguing that engaging, forgiving, and compensating terrorists amounts to indirect support for criminality.

“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,” he said.

Adeyanju warned that the idea of pardoning terrorists was incompatible with the principles of a functional state and sends the wrong signal to the public.

“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 destabilising the country pays.”

According to him, such policies risk fueling further insecurity, as other groups may be encouraged to embrace violence in anticipation of eventual government negotiations.

“It encourages more criminality, as others will be emboldened to bear arms knowing the government will eventually negotiate, compensate, and beg them,” he added.

Adeyanju also questioned what he described as unequal treatment in the administration of justice, comparing the handling of terrorists to the continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

“These terrorists have committed far worse crimes than Nnamdi Kanu, for example, who, whatever the allegations of incitement, did not physically kill anyone,” he said. “Yet thousands of Nigerians have been slaughtered by terrorists who are now being embraced by our government.”

He concluded that the current approach undermines justice and poses long-term risks to the country’s stability.

“This approach undermines the idea of justice and it threatens the foundation of national security in the long run,” Adeyanju stated.