A Kano-based political analyst, Kabiru Ojo, has criticized the proposal by Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to engage terrorists in dialogue, insisting that such an approach reflects a lack of a clear security strategy for tackling Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ojo argued that lasting peace can only be achieved by defeating terrorist groups through decisive military action rather than negotiating with them.
The criticism follows recent comments by Kwankwaso, who stated that communities affected by insecurity possess vital intelligence about criminal groups but are reluctant to cooperate with security agencies due to a lack of trust and inadequate protection for informants.
Kwankwaso also suggested that an NDC administration would consider dialogue with terrorists and other violent groups as part of efforts to restore peace.
Earlier, Peter Obi had similarly stated that he would be open to negotiating with bandits and other armed groups if they demonstrated a genuine willingness to embrace peace and contribute to rebuilding the country.
Reacting to the proposal, Ojo dismissed the idea, describing it as political rhetoric rather than a practical security policy.
“The idea of sitting down with terrorists and other criminals to discourage them from violence is just politics. It shows they do not have a concrete plan to solve the country’s security problems. Negotiating with people who have killed thousands of innocent Nigerians amounts to failure,” he said.
According to him, terrorist groups are not fighting for legitimate political or economic rights and should therefore not be rewarded with negotiations.
Drawing a distinction between the Niger Delta amnesty programme and the Boko Haram insurgency, Ojo argued that the circumstances were fundamentally different, noting that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua addressed genuine grievances in the Niger Delta but ordered security agencies to confront Boko Haram militarily.
He also backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to expand Nigeria’s security workforce and hold service chiefs accountable through measurable performance targets.
Ojo maintained that improving troop strength, enhancing the welfare of security personnel and sustaining military pressure remain the most effective path to ending terrorism.
He concluded that the NDC’s proposal does not provide a convincing roadmap for solving Nigeria’s security crisis and warned that negotiating with terrorists could embolden criminal groups rather than bring lasting peace.
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