*Photo: President Bola Tinubu*
The Federal Government will never bow to demands by terrorists to release their members held by security agencies in exchange for kidnapped victims.
Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said this in a press statement on Saturday.
Onanuga was conveying President Bola Tinubu’s condolences on the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information.
He said President Tinubu expressed shock over the death of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar while in the custody of terrorists in Katsina State.
General Abubakar, after a distinguished career in the military, retired a few years ago. He was on his way to his hometown when the hoodlums captured him.
Onanuga said “The President commiserated with his family, especially his wife, who is still being held against her will by the captors.
“He also extended his condolences to the Katsina State government and the armed forces.
“While the terrorists have done their worst, the President wants them to know that the government will never bow to their demand to release their members held by our security agencies.
He quoted Tinubu as stating that “As I said on June 12: “Bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. And no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.
“As Nigerians, we must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.
“General Abubakar’s death should further serve as a defining moment in our battle against terrorists and insurgents, never to negotiate with them on any terms, but to continue to treat them as the greatest enemies of our dear nation, who should never be spared.”
The federal government should be resolute in dealing with the terrorists if they are really sincere and not colluding with any external forces including US and China.
With all the AI surveillance tools and free Google map locators, even primary school children can track the militants in their hideouts. With all the military, police, NSDC, Intelligence units , these terrorists cannot last a day if there is no connivance with federal government or these security agencies.
Else, Minibus government should honourably resign if the problem cannot be solved in 3 days.