Governments at both the national and state levels, negotiating with terrorists may be running a heavy risk, prominent human rights advocate Femi Falana has reminded.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) particularised on those of them offering incentives to so-called repentant terrorists, of what the law says about that, describing them as running great risks.
“It is not in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order or public morality to grant pardon to terrorists and bandits who had engaged in the abduction of citizens including school children, gang rape of women and school girls, decapitation or beheading of victims of abduction, burning of schools etc”, he declared while delivering a keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
Speaking while delivering a keynote address titled: “Rising Under Pressure-Human Rights in an era of insecurity, Economic Strain & Democratic Uncertainty”, he called the president to exercise caution even while exercising his prerogative of mercy.
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With rampant hostage and ransom takings in the country amidst an atmosphere of rise in insurgency activities on the background, Falana, reminded public office holders the stance of the law concerning meetings and negotiating with terrorists even under the umbrella of repentant criminals.
He stated that some separatist groups which have been proscribed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, should face the law and not be pampered by the Nigerian state.
Falana quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years”, and then declared that state governors lack the power to grant pardon to the so-called terrorists and bandits.
Rather than be granted pardon, the law prescribes that all terrorists and bandits be arrested by the security forces and be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation, he stated.
“The President must bear in mind that it is not in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order or public morality to grant pardon to terrorists and bandits who had engaged in the abduction of citizens including school children, gang rape of women and school girls, decapitation or beheading of victims of abduction, burning of schools etc”, the legal luminary cautioned.
