Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked the Federal Government to stop apologising and negotiating with terrorists, urging the authorities to adopt stronger measures and modern technology to confront the worsening insecurity across the country.
Obasanjo spoke on Friday at the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival held in Jos, the state capital.
He expressed concern over the increasing killings, abductions and attacks recorded in several northern communities in recent weeks.
His remark comes after a string of abductions that have left families distressed. On November 21, a total of 315 students and 13 teachers were kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
Four days earlier, 26 schoolgirls were taken from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
In another incident, bandits invaded the Palaita community in Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting 24 people, including pregnant women, from a rice farm.
Across Kano and Kwara, at least 20 persons were also seized between Monday night and Tuesday morning. The latest episodes followed the release of 38 worshippers who were abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, Ikere, Kwara State, on November 18.
They were freed barely 24 hours earlier after the Federal Government negotiated with their abductors.
Speaking at the event, Obasanjo declared that Nigerians have the right to seek international support when their government fails to protect them.
He said, “No matter what religion you belong to. No matter where you come from. No matter your profession, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us. We are part of the world community. 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.”
He explained that technology now gives Nigeria the capacity to locate and neutralise terrorists, stressing that the country should not hesitate to use it.
Obasanjo added, “Before I left the government, I knew we had the capacity to pick up anybody in Nigeria who commits crime anywhere. The capacity we didn’t have then was after identifying and locating such a criminal, we couldn’t apprehend him without moving on land or by air. 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?”
The former President said the worsening attacks show the urgency for Nigeria to adopt tougher strategies, while also embracing global assistance if necessary.
