Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has clarified that the Federal Government does not negotiate with or pay ransom to terrorists, despite claims surrounding the recent release of kidnapped schoolchildren.
In an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, Bwala acknowledged that previous administrations occasionally engaged in negotiations to protect citizens. “There was a time the Federal Government was negotiating,” he said. “When your duty is to preserve the life of people and citizens of Nigeria are in danger and negotiation is the only way to save them, you have to do all that you need to do to save them at that time.”
However, he stressed that under Tinubu’s administration, there is a strict “zero-tolerance policy on negotiation.” He explained that ransom payments “constructively finance terrorism” by allowing kidnappers to buy more weapons, rather than targeting those sponsoring terrorism. “The Federal Government does not, and will not, tolerate the idea of negotiation,” Bwala added.
Asked specifically about the release of the Kebbi schoolgirls and St. Mary’s children, he stated that multiple factors could influence such outcomes, including pressure from negotiators, religious leaders, intelligence operations, and interventions by families or state governments. “But you ask the question whether the Federal Government did pay ransom, and I told you no,” he emphasised.
Addressing reports of terrorists claiming in videos that negotiations took place, Bwala said, “That’s the whole essence of terrorism… they can say anything they want. Confidence building will take time.”
He also noted that while the security challenge was inherited by the current administration, the government remains focused on solving the problem rather than merely responding to public perception.
Bwala’s clarification comes amid growing insecurity and frequent kidnapping incidents across Nigeria, as speculation continues over the government’s approach to dealing with terrorists.
