The House of Representatives on Wednesday strongly criticised the Federal Government for entering into negotiations with bandits to secure the release of 24 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
The condemnation came from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers known as “House to the Rescue,” who described the government’s decision, revealed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, as a betrayal of public trust and a serious threat to national security.
During a special plenary session held on Tuesday, members lamented the worsening insecurity across the country, noting that Nigerians now live in constant fear as kidnappers and armed groups operate unchecked.
In a statement endorsed by lawmakers representing all six geopolitical zones, the group declared:
“The House to the Rescue unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s engagement with bandits and criminal elements behind the ongoing wave of abductions across Nigeria.”
The lawmakers accused the government of empowering criminals rather than protecting citizens.
“At a time when Nigerians are pleading for safety, the government has chosen to negotiate with those who abduct children, terrorise communities, and challenge the authority of the Nigerian state,” they said.
They argued that President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy amounted to “an abdication of leadership.”
The statement noted that fresh kidnapping incidents in Kano, Kwara, Kebbi, and other states have left communities traumatised. Instead of decisive action, the lawmakers said, the government had offered “silence, excuses, and clandestine concessions to violent groups.”
“No responsible nation rewards criminality with dialogue. Negotiating with bandits has never yielded lasting peace anywhere in the world,” the coalition warned.
To support their position, they cited global examples where talks with violent non-state actors backfired:
Colombia: Negotiations with FARC reportedly increased ransom kidnappings and strengthened the rebels.
Mexico: Secret contacts with drug cartels worsened insecurity and emboldened gangs.
Afghanistan: Concessions, including prisoner exchanges, enabled the Taliban to regroup and eventually topple the entire government.
According to the lawmakers, Nigeria would face similar consequences if it continues to negotiate with criminal groups.
They warned that dialogue with bandits only legitimises their operations, encourages more abductions, and weakens public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
This approach, they said, has already created “a dangerous business model where abductors seize citizens and expect government negotiators instead of security forces.”
The coalition demanded that the Federal Government:
1. End all negotiations with bandits immediately.
2. Adopt intelligence-led military and security operations to rescue abductees.
3. Present a comprehensive national security strategy with clear accountability measures.
4. Subject all unofficial negotiators to National Assembly oversight.
The statement was signed by:
Muhammed Soba (North West), Zakari Mohammed (North Central), Olasupo Abiodun (South West), Sadiq Ibrahim (North East), Uko Nkole (South East), and Bassey Ewa (South South).
