Let's Trade the Path of The State of Israel.

It is more than six years today when some heartless fanatics stormed the little known #Chibok of Borno state and abducted more than 200 school girls.

These girls were loaded and ferried to a middle of nowhere unchallenged despite a more than four hour pre attack distress call to the authority. Boko Haram came out and claim the responsibility of the abduction and threaten to sale the girls as slaves.

This is not the first abduction carried out by these vampires. They have abducted several men and women of different nationalities before now; the prominent among which were the fragile Dr. Shattimah Ali Monguno, a one time minister of Energy during Gen. Gowon reign and a french family of four abducted in the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. The prominent abductees were freed after a ransom was paid.

For many countries, the principle of leaving no man or woman behind is scared. But unlike other countries, the government of Nigeria only responds to the abduction of a high profile citizen (like Dr. Monguno) and foreign nationals but not peasants like the #ChibokGirls.

Transacting with a terrorist is very problematic. As with the law of supply and demand, when a government pays for captives, likely it is to encourage more kidnapping. United state did this, so did Cairo, Amman, and Tel-Aviv. Since 1982, the US, Egypt, Jordan and Israel have all released high-valued terrorists or pay huge ransom in exchange for kidnapped nationals abroad. This has never stop them from going on with their evil murderous plans after being released but fuel them. It is an indirect funding of terrorists and terrorism.

The Jewish state is involved in a manhunt for three teenagers alleged to be abducted in the West Bank by Hamas. A search-and-rescue team of 2000 troops was in the territory with a mandate of getting back the teenagers from their abductors.

Hamas, a group which is being accused of the abduction has a long track record of kidnapping Israeli soldiers and civilians in retaliation of the atrocities of the Jewish state on its people. In 2006, Hamas successfully abducted a 19 year old corporal Gilad Shalit who was later released in 2009 in exchange for 1,027 Palestinians.

That was not the first time Israel is releasing a striking number of imprisoned Palestinians in exchange for its few citizens in the hands of enemy; the highest was six soldiers held by PLO in 1982 who were released in exchange for 4,767 imprisoned Palestinians. Also in 1985, 1,150 Palestinians were released for three Israeli soldiers. The value Israel puts on its citizens can not be over emphasised.

Also, in 2008 Israel swapped four members of Hizbullah and Samir Quntar for the corpses of two soldiers killed in Lebanon in 2006.

While the Israel commitment to its soldiers no doubt provides important reassurances to the rank and file and indeed to all citizens, it also offers a perverse incentive to abduct more Israelis, fuelling a vicious cycle. Yielding to the demands of a terrorist in paying ransom or exchanging captives is no doubt a direct and reluctant funding and reinforcement of their continue existence.

On this account, dozens of Palestinians released from Israel Jails have joined the rank of Hamas militia group and killed Israelis again in revenge to the continued suppression and attempted annihilation of their people. Just like the amnesty of the Boko Haram and Niger Delta terrorists, the continue released of hundreds of Palestinians for few Israelis will not melt the heart of the enemy. To me amnesty funding to the Boko Haram and Niger Delta terrorists is a reward of doing evil. It is an incentive to the renegades and outcasts.

I strongly stand with Mal. Nasiru Elrufa'i on his belief about state pardon to the abusers of the public trust. Pardoning a corrupt public officer is a frontal attack to the fight against corruption.

The exchange of Israeli soldiers with hundreds of Palestinians is probably less harmful compared to the hundreds of million of dollars France, Britain and Germany have paid to Al Qaida, Al Shabab and Boko Haram to repatriate their abducted nationals. Either way, the inescapable is an increased demand for hostages. Perhaps that is why Israel is devouting so much effort to hunting down rather than purchasing the three abducted teenagers.

Nigerian government must apply this strategy in rescuing the abducted and would be abducted Nigerians. We should never think of ransom or prisoner swap as an option of freeing our abducted compatriots. Because if we do, we will pay the price Israel is paying for decades in its fight with Palestinians.

Never negotiate with a terrorist.

...............................................................

Musa Tanko @MMTanko is a National Coordinator Muslim Youth Network @mynetwork585