The federal government under President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed its strict policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists or bandits, marking a sharp departure from past practices. The firm stance was articulated by the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, during a television appearance.
Bwala explained that previous administrations sometimes resorted to dialogue when citizens’ lives were at immediate risk. However, under the current government, such negotiations are no longer tolerated, largely because ransom payments effectively finance further criminality purchasing weapons and fueling more attacks.
He emphasized that this policy is a deliberate component of the broader national security strategy, underscoring that the state must avoid any engagement that could “constructively finance terrorism.”
According to Bwala, the government prefers decisive security operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks rather than engaging in dialogue that may embolden them.
