Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government and state governors, declaring that any official who enters into negotiations with terrorists or bandits risks a 20-year jail sentence.
Falana’s warning comes amid growing concerns over backdoor dialogues and amnesty proposals being floated by some state executives as a solution to the country’s relentless security crises. In a statement released over the weekend, the constitutional lawyer pointed out that the Terrorism Prevention Act explicitly criminalizes any form of cooperation, negotiation, or facilitation with designated terrorist organizations.
“The law is clear and unambiguous,” Falana stated. “Section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention Act provides that anyone who negotiates, facilitates, or attempts to negotiate on behalf of a terrorist group commits an offense and is liable upon conviction to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.”
Falana emphasized that governors, despite being the chief security officers of their respective states, do not possess the legal immunity or constitutional authority to bypass federal laws regarding terrorism. He argued that rewarding criminals with amnesty or ransom payments only subsidizes terrorism and fuels further insecurity.
The senior lawyer criticized past and present administrations for treating terrorism as a political issue rather than a strict law enforcement matter. He noted that previous attempts by various state governments to strike peace deals with bandits invariably backfired, as the groups used the financial payoffs to acquire more sophisticated weaponry.
Falana noted that paying ransoms or offering state-sponsored concessions directly funds the procurement of arms by criminal networks. Also, by choosing dialogue over prosecution, the state undermines the judiciary and denies justice to thousands of victims of terrorism.
Falana urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure that the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act are strictly enforced without fear or favor. “The Federal Government must send a clear signal that the era of treating mass murderers and kidnappers with kid gloves is over.
If governors or federal officials choose to violate the law by negotiating with terrorists, they should be prepared to face the legal consequences once their tenure expires.”
He concluded by calling on the military and law enforcement agencies to focus on crushing the insurgencies through lawful combat and intelligence gathering, rather than relying on illegal, short-term political settlements that weaken national security.
