The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a blistering condemnation of ongoing negotiations and amnesty arrangements between some Northern state governments and armed terrorists, declaring such actions a direct violation of Nigeria’s counterterrorism laws and a dangerous betrayal of the Nigerian people.
HURIWA warned that any governor or public official involved in negotiating, appeasing, or granting concessions to terrorists is effectively legitimising criminality and undermining the sovereignty of the Nigerian state.
The Association stated that while governors currently enjoy constitutional immunity, such protection is temporary and cannot shield them indefinitely from accountability.
“Once these officials leave office, they should be prepared to face investigation, arrest, and prosecution for aiding and abetting terrorism, whether directly or indirectly,” HURIWA declared.
The group described the growing trend of negotiating with terrorists in states such as Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara as a “dangerous doctrine of surrender,” warning that it has consistently failed and instead emboldened criminal networks.
Citing the 2024 Kaduna peace accord, HURIWA said the deal has effectively collapsed, with persistent killings, kidnappings, and mass displacement continuing across affected communities—particularly in Southern Kaduna.
“You cannot appease terrorists. Every kobo given, every concession made, is converted into more sophisticated weapons and more organised violence against innocent Nigerians,” the group said.
Terrorists Running Parallel Governments
HURIWA raised grave concerns that large swathes of Northern Nigeria are slipping out of government control, with terrorists now operating as de facto authorities in rural areas.
According to the group, armed groups in parts of the North-West and North-Central are imposing illegal taxes on farmers, regulating movement, and dictating the economic life of entire communities under threat of violence.
“What is unfolding is the emergence of parallel governments—terrorist enclaves where the authority of the Nigerian state has completely collapsed,” HURIWA warned.
Farmers, the group noted, are being forced to pay levies to access their own lands, while those who refuse face brutal reprisals, including killings, kidnappings, and destruction of entire villages.
Occupied Communities, Displaced Populations
HURIWA further decried the continued occupation of indigenous communities in Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue States by armed groups, describing the situation as a humanitarian and constitutional crisis.
The group referenced reports by community leaders and organisations indicating that over 100 communities in Southern Kaduna alone remain under the control of armed militias, with original inhabitants displaced into overcrowded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Similar patterns, it said, are evident in Plateau and Benue States, where farming populations have been driven from ancestral lands.
“This is nothing short of internal territorial conquest. Nigerians are being dispossessed in their own country while the state looks the other way,” HURIWA stated.
Media Silence, Escalating Atrocities
The Association also accused sections of the media of underreporting the scale of violence, warning that a “fog of silence” is enabling the crisis to deepen unchecked.
“What is reported is only a fraction of the atrocities. The reality on the ground is far more devastating,” it said.
Federal Government Must Act Now
HURIWA called on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action, warning that continued inaction risks further erosion of national security and territorial integrity.
Key Demands and Recommendations
Immediate prohibition of all negotiations and amnesty deals with terrorists by state governments, backed by enforceable federal directives.
Full-scale military operations to reclaim all territories under terrorist control and dismantle their operational bases.
Liberation and restoration of all occupied communities in Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue States, with safe return and resettlement of displaced residents.
Establishment of permanent security buffers in vulnerable areas to prevent reoccupation by armed groups.
Criminal investigation and prosecution of any public officials found to have engaged in or facilitated negotiations with terrorists in violation of the law.
Targeted dismantling of terrorist taxation systems, including protection for farmers and rural economies.
Strengthening of intelligence networks and community-based security frameworks to complement military efforts.
Urgent humanitarian intervention for displaced populations, including housing, food security, and livelihood restoration.
Judicial and legislative reforms to ensure stricter enforcement of counterterrorism laws and faster prosecution of offenders.
“Nigeria Cannot Negotiate Its Survival”
HURIWA stressed that the fight against terrorism cannot be won through appeasement, but through decisive enforcement of the law and restoration of state authority.
“Nigeria cannot negotiate its survival. A nation that rewards violence invites its own destruction,” the statement read.
The group warned that history has shown that every failed peace deal only strengthens terrorist groups, deepens insecurity, and prolongs the suffering of innocent citizens.
“The time for half-measures is over. The Nigerian state must act firmly, decisively, and lawfully—or risk losing control of even more territory to forces of terror,” HURIWA concluded.
Signed:
Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator, HURIWA
April 27, 2026
