A group of former federal lawmakers under the aegis of House to the Rescue (HTR) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s negotiation approach, saying it is fuelling insecurity across Nigeria.

The group, in a statement jointly signed by its zonal coordinators — Hon. Muhammed Musa Soba (North West), Hon. Zakari Mohammed (North Central), Hon. Olasupo Abiodun (South West), Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim (North East), Hon. Uko Nkole (South East), and Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa (South South) — declared that:

“House to the Rescue unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s ongoing negotiations with bandits and criminal networks responsible for the wave of kidnappings tearing through Nigeria.

“At a time when citizens are crying out for protection, the government has chosen to sit at the same table with those who abduct children, violate women, terrorise communities, and undermine the authority of the Nigerian state. This is not leadership.

“This is abdication of responsibility. For weeks, Nigerians have endured new rounds of kidnappings in Kano, Kwara, Kebbi and other states.

“Families are traumatised, communities are helpless, yet the Federal Government’s response has been silence, excuses, and back-door concessions to violent groups. No functioning nation rewards criminality with dialogue.

“Negotiation with bandits has never worked anywhere — global history warns us. Countries that tried this path paid dearly for it: Colombia’s talks with FARC emboldened kidnappers and strengthened the group militarily; Mexico’s back-channel contacts with cartels worsened kidnapping rates and created a prolonged security collapse; Afghanistan’s concessions to the Taliban allowed the group to regroup and eventually overthrow the entire government; Somalia’s engagement with warlords deepened the conflict; Mali’s deals with jihadist and bandit groups enabled violence to spread into neighbouring countries.

“The global evidence is indisputable: negotiating with violent non-state actors leads to more violence, not peace. Nigeria is not an exception. Nigeria will not be the first country where bandit negotiations succeed.

“The Federal Government is legitimising criminality and endangering the entire nation. By entering talks with bandits, the government is signalling weakness, incentivising more kidnappings, giving criminals political relevance, undermining security agencies, and destroying public trust in the state.

“This reckless approach has already created a dangerous business model where abductors take citizens and wait for government representatives to arrive with negotiations instead of force.”

House to the Rescue demanded immediate action, urging the Federal Government to stop all negotiations and covert dealings with bandits; launch a coordinated, intelligence-led national security operation to rescue victims and dismantle kidnapping networks; publish a clear security strategy with timelines, responsibilities and accountability mechanisms; and activate full National Assembly oversight to investigate all officials involved in unauthorised contacts with criminal groups.

“The government’s first duty is the protection of lives and property. Any administration that chooses compromise with criminals over the safety of its people has lost moral authority to lead.

“Nigerians deserve a country where criminals fear the state — not a country where the state fears criminals.”