Popular Nigerian journalist and Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, has expressed concern over the manner of the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted by bandits in Maga, Kebbi State.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Oseni lamented that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is reportedly negotiating with bandits for the schoolgirls’ release instead of employing a kinetic (military) approach.
Oseni criticized the apparent double standard, contrasting the government’s action with the life imprisonment sentence handed to Nnamdi Kanu (leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra) for inciting violence.
He questioned why the government negotiated with kidnappers without arresting them, sarcastically asking if the criminals were being treated as “business partners.” He stated: “You negotiated with the criminals, bandits, and terrorists as what? a business partners? Should the government be negotiating in a case where it has superpowers?”
The release of the 24 schoolgirls on Tuesday prompted President Tinubu to say, “I am relieved that all 24 girls have been accounted for.” However, the manner of their freedom has caused concern among Nigerians.
Earlier, rapper and activist Folarin Falana (Falz) had also criticized the rescue of 38 abducted members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State without the kidnappers being arrested.
A presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, defended the security forces on Arise TV, explaining that they “must act carefully to avoid harming citizens,” which he cited as the reason bandits are often not arrested.
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