Prominent human rights activist Femi Falana has declared that it is completely unlawful for the federal and state governments to negotiate with and reward terrorists.
At the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026, Falana gave a keynote speech titled “Rising Under Pressure-Human Rights in an era of insecurity, Economic Strain & Democratic Uncertainty.” Falana cautioned that holding talks with insurgents is a serious violation of Nigerian law.
Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
He emphasized that by virtue of the letter and spirit of the Act, it is a grave offence to hold meetings or associate with criminals who have engaged in terrorist attacks, including the abduction of citizens.
Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
In view of these clear and unambiguous provisions of the law, Falana declared that “state governors lack the power to grant pardon to the so-called terrorists and bandits.” Instead, he explained that what is required under the law is that all terrorists and bandits arrested by the security forces shall be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation. He clarified that it is only after they have been convicted and sentenced to “at least 20 years” imprisonment that the President may exercise his prerogative of mercy in favour of convicted terrorists and bandits in deserving cases.
However, Falana delivered a stern warning regarding the potential use of presidential pardons for such severe crimes. He argued that in exercising his prerogative of mercy, “the President must bear in mind that it is not in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order or public morality to grant pardon to terrorists and bandits who had engaged in the abduction of citizens including school children, gang rape of women and school girls, decapitation or beheading of victims of abduction, burning of schools etc.”
Personally I feel negotiations with terrorists are not a new development and cannot be resolved overnight. The government has been engaging in dialogue long before now, and while the process is complex and challenging, it is essential for peace and stability.
If there is a genuine desire to cease negotiations, it must be accompanied by the implementation of effective measures that ensure security and justice. Only through a well-structured approach can sustainable peace be achieved, and the cycle of violence be broken.
