Deals with the ‘Devil’

The fear of legitimising terrorism has garnered an unequivocal statement, “we do not negotiate with terrorists”, from some leaders worldwide. Nonetheless, this stance is often set aside when push comes to shove. The plague of violence in Nigeria has worsened over time, and in Nigeria’s attempt to curtail extremist activities, some questionable routes have come into play. The activities of criminal elements through kidnapping, bombings, and assassinations, to mention a few, have brought to question the morality and implications of engaging such elements through dialogue and negotiations.

Over time there have been conflicting declarations by the government regarding the options of negotiations. Going with the cliché  “we do not negotiate with terrorists”, Nigeria, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), stated that negotiations could not address the security condition in the country as negotiations remain a sign of weakness. In essence, kinetic approaches in curtailing terrorism remain the only option. However, despite ultimatums by Nigeria’s leadership, violent activities have occurred in multiple locations nationwide with inadequate resistance from the government. According to Nextier Violent Conflict Database, violent attacks increased from 1,169 cases in 2021 to 1,671 in 2022. In the first 20 days of 2023, 94 incidents have been recorded.

In a country apparently running out of options to curtail violence, Information Minister Lai Mohammed admitted to ongoing talks with Boko Haram. However, it is argued that despite the morally questionable deals and ransom payments by governments, it often yields desired results. As seen in Zamfara state, Governor Mattawalle negotiated with the terrorists operating in the state. His action resulted in “a near-total” drop in attacks and the release of over a thousand kidnap victims. Nonetheless, this drop in attacks was short-lived. In giving justification for negotiation with terrorists, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, highlighted the need for negotiation stating that the complexity of terrorist activities in the country required a carefully orchestrated multi-layered approach. Contrary to this statement, the act of negotiation remains a direct infringement on Nigeria’s Terrorism (Amendment) Act (2013).

Criticisms have followed Nigeria’s negotiation with terrorist elements. According to Afenifere, the statement by the government to adopt negotiations is regrettable and an admission to failure. The concept of negotiations remains a tricky one. The perceived availability for negotiations allows terrorists to play by their rules and humiliate constituted authority. An instance was the attack on Jangabe and the abduction of 317 school girls despite a peace deal. Such actions undermine the authority, and numerous other incidents indicate that peace deals are not binding. Furthermore, the dialogue between the government and criminal elements has worsened the country’s security situation. The rise in violent conflict, as observed from the Nextier Violent Conflict Database, indicates that criminal gangs likely continue operations based on knowledge of the government’s willingness to make concessions based on their demands.

Given this trajectory, the Nigerian government should adopt a unified approach through kinetic and non-kinetic measures to stamp out terrorist activities. A blanket approach ensures that the federal, state and local governments operate on the same page, leaving no room for concessions to criminal elements. Furthermore, the surge in violence despite negotiation attempts by the government requires enforcement and adherence to the Terrorism (Amendment) Act. The security forces can be proactive instead of reactive, putting them in control of the fight against terrorism. Such efforts will reduce considerations of negotiating with terrorists, often from the point of weakness. Salvaging terrorism hotspots in Nigeria requires formidable and consistent counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts of the Nigerian state.