Governor Lawal Says He Refused To Pay N300m Ransom For Kidnapped Brothers.

 

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that he refused to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers who abducted his brothers in 2019, saying he chose not to negotiate with criminals in order to avoid encouraging kidnapping for ransom.

The governor said his decision was based on his conviction that paying ransom only emboldens criminal groups and fuels further abductions.

Lawal made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at the ARISE News and THISDAY Town Hall Conference in Abuja, where he also renewed his call for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to address insecurity across the country.

Recounting the incident, the governor said the kidnappers demanded N300 million for the release of his brothers, but he declined to negotiate or make any payment.

"My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding at the time about N300 million. And I said, look, I'm not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them," he said.

According to Lawal, despite his refusal to pay the ransom, the kidnappers eventually released his brothers after they spent about three months in captivity.

The governor said the experience strengthened his belief that ransom payments only empower criminal groups and encourage more kidnappings.

"By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more," he said.

He argued that kidnappers would be discouraged from carrying out abductions if they realised they could not obtain money from victims' families or the government.

Lawal stressed that his position on the issue has remained unchanged over the years, insisting that he would never negotiate with or pay ransom to criminals.

"I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens," he added.