Paying ransom encourages kidnapping, says Zamfara Governor Lawal

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has revealed that he refused to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers after his brothers were abducted in 2019, saying yielding to such demands only emboldens criminal groups and fuels further kidnappings.

The governor made the disclosure on Thursday during the ARISE News and THISDAY Town Hall Conference in Abuja, where he reiterated his opposition to ransom payments and renewed his call for the establishment of state police.

Lawal said the kidnappers demanded ₦300 million for the release of his brothers, but he refused to negotiate or make any payment despite the emotional pressure.

“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding about N300 million. I said I was not going to pay a dime,” he said.

According to the governor, his brothers regained their freedom after spending about three months in captivity without any ransom being paid.

He argued that paying kidnappers only encourages them to continue abducting innocent people for financial gain.

“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapped more and more,” Lawal said, adding that he would never negotiate or pay ransom to criminals regardless of the circumstances.

The governor maintained that governments should prioritise strengthening security institutions instead of rewarding criminal activities through ransom payments.

Lawal also renewed his advocacy for state police, arguing that governors are often held responsible for insecurity despite lacking operational control over security agencies deployed within their states.

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He noted that although governors are regarded as chief security officers of their states, they do not have the constitutional authority to direct the operations of the police and other federal security agencies.

Questioning the current arrangement, Lawal said it was unfair to hold governors accountable for security challenges without giving them the powers needed to effectively coordinate security operations.

Despite these limitations, he said the Zamfara State Government has committed significant resources to improving security across the state.

According to him, more than 30 per cent of the state’s resources have been channelled into security over the past three years, including the procurement of over 500 operational vehicles for security agencies.

The governor added that the acquisitions include 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, as well as surveillance and combat drones to support security operations against armed criminal groups.

Lawal expressed optimism that these investments have strengthened the fight against insecurity but insisted that granting states constitutional authority to establish and manage their own police forces would significantly improve security outcomes.

His remarks have reignited debate over ransom payments, the creation of state police and broader reforms needed to address Nigeria’s persistent kidnapping and insecurity challenges.