We Won’t Cave In To Your Demands, Tinubu Tells Terrorists Over General Rabe’s Death

By Akanni Toba

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that under no circumstances will its administration succumb to pressure and grant the demands of terrorists who are hellbent on turning the country upside down.

Tinubu, who expressed shock over the death of retired Major-General Abubakar Rabe, stressed that his administration will not release terrorists’ allies in custody.

The Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief of the Army forces spoke in a state issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday,

He said, “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.

“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.

“As Nigerians, we must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.

“General Abubakar’s death should further serve as a defining moment in our battle against terrorists and insurgents, never to negotiate with them on any terms, but to continue to treat them as the greatest enemies of our dear nation, who should never be spared.”

The President commiserated with the family of the retired General, especially his wife, who is still being held against her will.

He also extended his condolences to the Katsina State government and the armed forces.

Recall that the deceased general, who served as spokesperson of the military headquarters in his lifetime, was abducted two weeks ago alongside his wife.

The couple were traveling to their hometown when they were captured by bandits.

He died in captivity on Saturday.

The retired general’s death is shrouded in controversy.

While many believe he was killed by the bandits because the government had refused to grant their demands, a statement from the Katsina government stated that the retired general died from complications arising from diabetes.

According to the statement, Rabe was denied access to his medication in captivity and the development worsened his health condition.

Recall that in a video released a week after bandits held Rabe and his wife hostage, they asked the government to release three members of their gang in captivity.

But the government did not grant their demand.

In a similar vein, terrorists holding school children and their teachers in Oyo State were said to have demanded the release of their members before the children would regain their freedom.

The Oyo abductees have been in captivity for exactly a month. The kidnap victims have appealed to both the state and federal government to grant the requests of the terrorists to ensure their release instead of initiating military operations.