Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has disclosed that he declined to pay a ₦300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers who abducted two of his brothers in 2019, saying he was determined not to encourage criminality by yielding to the demands of the abductors.
The governor made the revelation while speaking on the persistent challenge of kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria, stressing that the payment of ransom only emboldens criminal groups and sustains the cycle of insecurity.
According to Lawal, the kidnappers had demanded ₦300 million to secure the release of his brothers after they were abducted in 2019. However, despite the emotional and personal toll of the incident, he said he refused to comply with the demand because of his conviction that paying ransom would further incentivise kidnappings.
The governor maintained that ransom payments provide financial resources for criminal gangs, enabling them to acquire weapons, recruit more members, and expand their operations.
“I did not pay the ransom because I believe it only encourages more kidnappings and strengthens criminal networks,” Lawal said, reiterating his long-held position against negotiating financially with kidnappers.
He argued that while families often face immense pressure to secure the release of loved ones, addressing the country’s security challenges requires a broader strategy focused on dismantling criminal groups rather than rewarding them financially.
Lawal also underscored the need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, state governments, and local communities to combat the activities of kidnappers and armed bandits, particularly in the North-West, where insecurity has remained a major concern.
Since assuming office as governor, Lawal has repeatedly pledged to strengthen security across Zamfara State through increased support for security agencies, intelligence gathering, and community-based initiatives aimed at restoring peace to affected communities.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges in recent years, with criminal groups targeting travellers, students, farmers, traditional rulers, and residents in several states. Security experts have consistently warned that ransom payments, while often made under extreme circumstances, can contribute to the growth and sustainability of kidnapping syndicates.
The Federal Government has also maintained a policy discouraging the payment of ransom to kidnappers, arguing that such payments finance criminal activities and undermine efforts to curb insecurity.
Lawal reiterated that overcoming the country’s security crisis requires sustained investment in intelligence, improved policing, stronger law enforcement, and coordinated action to dismantle criminal networks rather than providing them with financial incentives through ransom payments.
