President Bola Tinubu’s Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has declared that the current Federal Government does not negotiate with bandits and terrorists to secure the release of kidnapped victims.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Bwala said Tinubu’s administration has zero tolerance for negotiation with terrorists because it amounts to sponsoring terrorism.
According to Bwala, “There was a time the federal government was negotiating (with terrorists), and I think that el-Rufai (the former Kaduna governor) once talked about a national policy at that time, when they said both states and the federal government can be in a situation where they would have to negotiate.
“Because if your duty is to preserve the life of people, and citizens of Nigeria are in danger, and negotiation is the only way to save them, then you have to do all that is necessary to save them at that time.
“But President Tinubu came with this zero tolerance on negotiation because it didn’t fit into terrorism financing. You see, you are constructively financing terrorism without knowing it.
“So instead of elements who are sponsoring them by giving them money as ransom to collect the people, they also use the ransom money to buy more weapons.
“So the federal government does not tolerate the idea of negotiation.”
On November 18, 2025, bandits stormed the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in the Eruku area of Kwara State and abducted some worshippers during a special thanksgiving service. While three people were killed, three others were killed and one sustained injuries.
Reports said 38 victims have since been released by the bandits.
In a similar vein, bandits last week abducted 10 persons in Biresawa and Tsundu communities in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Troops of Operation MESA under the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army rescued seven persons kidnapped in Yankamaye Cikin Gari village in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Capt. Babatunde Zubairu.