Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Federal Government to halt ongoing negotiations with terrorists and bandits, insisting that Nigeria must adopt tougher measures and seek international support to curb the worsening security crisis.
Speaking during the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival held in Jos on Friday, Obasanjo expressed strong displeasure over the rising wave of killings, abductions, and attacks across several northern communities.
He said the government should “stop apologising and negotiating with terrorists,” stressing that firmer action was long overdue.
His comments come amid a succession of violent incidents in recent weeks. On November 21, terrorists abducted 315 students and 13 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.
Four days earlier, 26 schoolgirls were seized from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
In the latest attack, gunmen stormed the Palaita community in Shiroro LGA, Niger State, kidnapping 24 people, including pregnant women, from a rice farm.
Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, about 20 more people were abducted in Kano and Kwara States.
These attacks occurred just a day after 38 abducted worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, were freed following negotiations between the Federal Government and their captors.
At the Jos event, Obasanjo condemned the deterioration of security, arguing that Nigerians have the right to seek international assistance when their government is unable to ensure their safety.
“No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us,” he said.
“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.”
The former President also questioned why Nigeria is failing to utilise available technology to track and neutralise terrorists.
He noted that during his administration, the major limitation was the inability to apprehend criminals quickly, but advancements such as drone technology now make such operations more feasible.
“Before I left government, I knew we had the capacity to pick up anybody in Nigeria who commits a crime anywhere,” he said.
“Now we have capacity. With drones, we can sleeve them up. You can take them out. Why are we not doing that? Why are we apologising? Why are we negotiating?”
