Adeyanju condemns pardon of terrorists, warns it endangers national security

Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has strongly criticised the federal government’s continued negotiation and alleged appeasement of bandits and terrorists, warning that such actions pose a serious danger to Nigeria’s national security.

In a statement, Adeyanju argued that the government’s approach of negotiating, paying, forgiving and accommodating armed groups amounts to indirect sponsorship of terrorism.

He insisted that terrorism is not a misunderstanding that can be resolved through dialogue, but a criminal act that must be met with arrests, prosecution and imprisonment.

According to him, hosting or rewarding terrorists with concessions sends a wrong signal and sets a dangerous precedent for the country.

“The idea of forgiving terrorists is alien to any serious state.

It tells people that picking up arms, killing citizens and destabilising the nation is profitable,” he said, adding that such a policy would only embolden others to resort to violence with the hope of eventual negotiations and compensation.

Adeyanju further noted that the crimes committed by terrorists are far more grievous than those attributed to some individuals currently facing prosecution, citing the case of Nnamdi Kanu as an example.

He argued that while Kanu is accused of incitement, he has not physically killed anyone, unlike terrorists who have allegedly slaughtered thousands of Nigerians but are now being courted by the government.

He warned that embracing terrorists undermines justice and threatens the long-term stability and security of the country.

Adeyanju called on the government to abandon what he described as a policy of appeasement and instead adopt a firm stance that prioritises justice, accountability and the protection of citizens.