Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of Sports and spokesman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the Federal Government of negotiating with kidnappers to secure the release of abducted victims, warning that such actions reinforce the banditry “economy.”
Abdullahi made the comments while reacting to the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Kebbi State. The school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was reportedly killed during the attack.
“The government is making deals with kidnappers and insurgents. They can’t deny it,” Abdullahi said on Channels Television’s Politics Today, noting that these negotiations may offer short-term wins but embolden criminals.
He questioned the government’s claim, echoed by Governor Nasir Idris, that no ransom was paid. Abdullahi explained that contacting kidnappers inherently involves negotiation, which can unintentionally encourage further abductions.
“They were asking for ₦100 million per victim. So, how did the release happen without a deal?” he asked.
Abdullahi warned that paying or negotiating with kidnappers could create a dangerous precedent.
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He cited a recent case in Ekiti Local Government, where abductors struck again immediately after releasing previous victims.
“When you negotiate with criminals, you admit your vulnerability and encourage more crimes,” he said.
While welcoming the reunion of victims with their families, he criticized the approach as unsustainable.
“The government needed a strategic escalation of security long ago. Declaring a state of emergency is a step, but we need to see effective action in the coming days,” he added.
Abdullahi also condemned the government’s decision to shut schools to prevent abductions.
“Closing schools signals that the government cannot protect them and reinforces Boko Haram’s ideology against Western education,” he said.
He further dismissed claims that the ADC was fueling insecurity or lobbying the US against Nigeria, emphasizing that the party’s focus is on public safety.
The schoolgirls, kidnapped on November 17, were released on Tuesday, days before President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency in response to rising insecurity.
