By comfort
The House of Representatives on Wednesday strongly criticised the Federal Government for entering negotiations with bandits to secure the release of 24 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
Lawmakers operating under the coalition “House to the Rescue” said the government’s decision—revealed by President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Mr. Bayo Onanuga—amounts to a betrayal of public trust and a direct threat to national security.
Their reaction followed a special plenary session on Tuesday, where members expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity and the growing fear endured daily by Nigerians as kidnappers and bandits continue to operate with impunity.
In a statement jointly signed by representatives from all six geopolitical zones, the group declared:
“House to the Rescue unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s ongoing negotiations with bandits and criminal networks responsible for the wave of kidnappings plaguing Nigeria.”
The lawmakers cited global examples to strengthen their argument. They noted that in Mexico, back-channel negotiations with drug cartels worsened kidnapping rates, strengthened criminal gangs, and triggered a security breakdown that the country is still struggling to recover from.
They also pointed to Afghanistan, arguing that concessions to the Taliban — including prisoner swaps — enabled the group to rebuild its strength and ultimately topple the entire government.
According to the legislators, Somalia offers another cautionary tale, where engagement with warlords only intensified the conflict and provided militias with room to expand their operations. In Mali, they added, government deals with jihadist and bandit networks allowed extremist violence to spread into neighbouring countries.
The group warned the Federal Government that “Negotiating with violent non-state actors leads to more violence, not peace. Nigeria is not an exception.”
