Amid the country’s worsening security crisis, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the federal government to end all negotiations with terrorists.
Gatekeepers News reports that the former president said that Nigerians are justified in seeking international assistance as attacks and abductions continue to escalate nationwide.
Jonathan made the remark on Friday during a Christmas Carol event held in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Recall that in recent weeks, the country has witnessed a surge in violent attacks and mass abductions. More than 200 students were taken in separate incidents in Niger and Kebbi states, and worshippers in a church in Kwara were kidnapped during a livestreamed service.
In Borno, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ambushed a military convoy and captured Brigadier General M. Uba, whom the group later killed. Similar cases of kidnapping and murder have been recorded in Yobe, Zamfara, and Sokoto states.
Responding to the escalating situation, Obasanjo criticised the Bola Tinubu-led administration, saying it is incapable of protecting citizens.
He stressed that the government must abandon its approach of apologising and negotiating with terrorists, urging a more forceful response instead.
Obasanjo said, “No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter what profession you are in, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us.”
“We are part of the world community, and 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.”
