A former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected mounting calls for negotiations with bandits, insisting that only decisive action, backed by modern technology and, if necessary, international support, can address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Friday at the Plateau State Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival in Jos, the state capital, where he expressed frustration over the rising wave of killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks across northern communities.
His comments come in the wake of several recent tragedies, including the November 21 abduction of 315 students and 13 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
The former President criticised what he described as the government’s growing tendency to “apologise and negotiate” with armed groups rather than confronting them head-on.
“No matter your religion, your origin, or your profession, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems incapable of protecting us,” he said.
He argued that if Nigerians believe the government is unable to secure the country, they are justified in seeking support from outside Nigeria.
“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,” Obasanjo declared.
Obasanjo also maintained that identifying criminals is not as difficult as authorities often suggest. According to him, technology has now made it even easier to detect the locations of bandits and other violent actors.
“Before I left 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 to apprehend them immediately after identifying them,” he explained.
The former leader suggested that with today’s advancements, the government has no excuse for failing to locate and neutralise terror groups.
