Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned the Federal Government and state governors that negotiating with terrorists and bandits is illegal under Nigerian law and attracts a jail term of at least 20 years.
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Falana gave the warning while delivering a keynote address titled “Rising Under Pressure: Human Rights In An Era Of Insecurity, Economic Strain And Democratic Uncertainty” at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
The prominent rights advocate condemned what he described as the practice of government officials holding meetings with terrorists, negotiating with them and rewarding so-called repentant criminals with cash gifts.
According to him, it is public knowledge that officials of the Federal Government and some state governments have, at different times, met with terrorists and bandits, leading to the pardon and reintegration of thousands of persons described as repentant criminals.
Falana said such practice is unlawful, especially because Boko Haram and similar groups have been proscribed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
He insisted that members of such groups and their allies should be prosecuted, not pampered or forgiven by the Nigerian State.
Falana said, “The satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. Their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
He argued that under the Act, it is a serious criminal offence to hold meetings with, associate with, arrange activities for, or provide support to persons or groups involved in terrorist acts, including the abduction of citizens.
Citing Section 22 of the Act, Falana said any person who knowingly arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or activity connected with terrorism or a terrorist group commits an offence.
He added that the law also criminalises the collection or provision of logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for such meetings or activities.
According to him, attending a meeting known to support a proscribed entity or further its objectives also attracts criminal liability.
Falana quoted the law as providing that anyone convicted of such an offence is liable to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.
He said the provisions of the law are clear and unambiguous, and therefore do not give state governors the power to pardon terrorists or bandits.
Falana maintained that the proper legal procedure is for all terrorists and bandits arrested by security forces to be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
He explained that only after such persons have been convicted and sentenced can the President consider exercising the prerogative of mercy in deserving cases.
However, Falana warned that even in exercising the power of pardon, the President must consider the gravity of the crimes committed by terrorists and bandits.
He said it would not be in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order or public morality to pardon persons involved in the abduction of citizens, including schoolchildren, gang rape of women and girls, beheading of victims, burning of schools and other violent crimes.
Falana said, “State governors lack the power to grant pardon to the so-called terrorists and bandits.”
He added that persons arrested for terrorism and banditry must be prosecuted and, if convicted, sentenced according to law before any question of presidential pardon can arise.
The senior lawyer’s remarks come amid growing public concern over insecurity, mass abductions, school attacks and reports of negotiations between authorities and armed groups in parts of the country.
Falana’s position is that government officials who negotiate with terrorists risk violating the same law meant to combat terrorism, and that the Nigerian State must stop rewarding violent criminals while victims continue to suffer.
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