President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reacted to the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in bandits’ captivity, declaring that the Federal Government will never yield to demands by terrorists and kidnappers for the release of their members held in custody.
The President made the position known in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the death of the retired military officer who was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
Major General Rabe died in captivity about two weeks after he was kidnapped while travelling to his hometown. His wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, remains in the custody of the abductors.
The President’s reaction comes amid reports that the bandits had demanded the release of three of their members allegedly in government custody as a condition for freeing the retired General and his wife.
Similar demands have also reportedly been made by terrorists holding schoolchildren and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State.
Responding to the demands, Tinubu insisted that his administration would not negotiate the release of detained terrorists.
“While the terrorists have done their worst, the President wants them to know that the government will never bow to their demand to release their members,” the statement said.
Reaffirming his administration’s hardline stance against terrorism, Tinubu reiterated his Democracy Day warning to criminal groups operating across the country.
“As I said on June 12, bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.
“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. And no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” he stated.
The President urged Nigerians to remain united and confident that the country would eventually overcome insecurity.
