Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned the Federal Government and state governors against negotiating, rewarding, or granting amnesty to terrorists and armed groups, insisting that such actions are not only unlawful but punishable under Nigeria’s anti-terrorism legislation.
Falana said the growing practice of engaging in dialogue with terrorists and bandits, coupled with alleged payments and rehabilitation packages for so-called “repentant” fighters, amounts to a breach of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on Friday, June 13, 2026.
According to him, it is already in the public domain that officials of both the Federal Government and some state governments have held repeated negotiations with terrorist elements, a development he described as a dangerous contradiction of the law.
Falana noted that groups such as Boko Haram and other associated organisations have been proscribed under Nigerian law, stressing that their members are required to be prosecuted rather than engaged, compensated, or reintegrated without accountability.
Citing Section 22 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, he warned that anyone who knowingly participates in meetings or activities connected to terrorist organisations, or provides logistics, support, or attends such meetings in furtherance of their objectives, commits a serious offence.
He explained that the law prescribes a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for offenders found guilty under such provisions.
Falana cautioned that continued negotiation and reward systems for armed non-state actors undermine the rule of law, embolden criminal groups, and weaken national security efforts.
He urged authorities to strictly comply with existing legal frameworks in dealing with terrorism-related offences, rather than adopting what he described as unconstitutional and legally risky shortcuts.
The senior lawyer reiterated that the fight against insecurity must be rooted in justice and due process, warning that any policy contrary to the law exposes public officials to potential prosecution in the future.
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