Dare Babalola
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that the Federal Government does not negotiate with or pay ransom to terrorists, dismissing claims suggesting otherwise amidst the release of abducted schoolchildren.
The presidential aide who spoke on Channels Television on Wednesday, acknowledged past administrations’ negotiations with kidnappers, stating, “There was a time the Federal Government was negotiating,” while emphasising the current administration’s stance against paying ransom.
He said, “When they said both states and the Federal Government can be in a situation where they will 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, you have to do all that you need to do to save them at that time.”
Explaining the rationale behind this stance, Bwala said, “You are constructively financing terrorism without knowing it.
“Instead of targeting those sponsoring them, ransom payments only allow terrorists to buy more weapons. The Federal Government does not, and will not, tolerate the idea of negotiation.”
When questioned about the release of the Kebbi schoolgirls and St. Mary’s children, Bwala attributed it to various factors, citing “pressure from negotiators, religious leaders, or intelligence operations, as well as interventions by families or state governments,” without providing further details.
“But you ask the question whether the Federal Government did pay ransom, and I told you no,” he emphasised.
On reports that terrorists mocked the government in videos claiming negotiations took place, Bwala said, “That’s the whole essence of terrorism.
“Terrorism is a belligerent war; terrorists inflict fear. In terms of communication, they can say anything they want to say … but if they want to, the same way you want the government to support whatever claim the government is making, I believe that if the terrorists have facts as they claim, they will give those facts … confidence building will take time.”
He added that although the problem was inherited by the current administration, “our eyes are on the ball. Solving the problem is much more important to us than people having a meeting to say government is doing well or not.”
