Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Federal Government to end its practice of apologising to and negotiating with terrorists amid the rising wave of insecurity across the country.
Obasanjo issued the charge on Friday during the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival held in Jos.
His remarks come in the wake of persistent killings, mass abductions, and attacks ravaging several northern communities in recent weeks.
DAILY POST recalls that on November 21, terrorists abducted 315 students and 13 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. The incident followed the kidnapping of 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State on November 17.
In another recent attack, bandits invaded Palaita community in Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting 24 people—including pregnant women—who were working on a rice farm. Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, about 20 more persons were kidnapped in separate incidents in Kano and Kwara States.
These attacks occurred just days after the Federal Government negotiated the release of 38 worshippers abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Kwara State.
In the latest assault on Tuesday, 10 individuals—including a pregnant woman, nursing mothers, and children—were seized in Isapa community, near Eruku.
Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the deteriorating security situation, Obasanjo said:
“Our government must stop apologizing and negotiating with terrorists. No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter your profession—Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us.
“We are part of the world community. If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us.”
