Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has advised the Federal Government to disregard any appeals for surrender from bandits or terrorists operating in any part of the country, insisting that the criminals must first be completely dealt with.
Babangida made his position known in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he called for a decisive military response against armed groups terrorising communities nationwide.
According to the former leader, security agencies should prioritise the full neutralisation of bandits before considering dialogue or negotiations of any kind.
He maintained that accepting surrender prematurely could undermine efforts to end insecurity.
“While the bandits are pleading for surrender, we must not accept their plea until every one of them is neutralised and eliminated,” Babangida wrote.
He added that once this is achieved, individuals he described as negotiators and sympathisers others, should be invited for thorough questioning by the authorities.
The statement has since triggered widespread reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing divergent views on the former leader’s hardline stance.
Some users threw their weight behind Babangida’s comments.
A social media user identified as Dr. Jay supported the call, suggesting that those perceived as sympathisers should have been facing scrutiny by security agencies before now.
Others, however, raised concerns about shifting public sentiments.
Another commenter, Phyno, argued that Nigerians often change opinions quickly, warning against sudden reversals in public support for controversial figures.
Also reacting, Ikechukwu described Babangida’s position as timely, stressing that it should be implemented strictly to achieve lasting security.
