Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has revealed that he refused to pay a ₦300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers after his brothers were abducted in 2019, insisting that yielding to criminals only fuels the cycle of kidnapping across the country.
Speaking on Thursday at the ARISE News/THISDAY Town Hall Conference in Abuja, Lawal said he made the difficult decision not to negotiate with the abductors, maintaining that ransom payments encourage criminal groups to continue targeting innocent Nigerians.
Recalling the incident, the governor said the kidnappers demanded ₦300 million for the release of his brothers, but he rejected the demand outright.
“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals demanded about ₦300 million. I told them I was not going to pay a dime. If they wanted to kill them, they should go ahead,” Lawal said.
According to him, the abductors eventually released his brothers after about three months in captivity without receiving any ransom.
Lawal argued that ending ransom payments would reduce the financial incentive driving kidnappings, adding that criminals would be forced to reconsider the practice if victims’ families refused to negotiate.
“I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens,” he said.
The governor also renewed his call for the establishment of state police, arguing that governors cannot be held fully accountable for security when they lack operational control over the police and other security agencies.
He described the designation of governors as “chief security officers” of their states as misleading, noting that they have limited authority over security operations despite being expected to safeguard lives and property.
According to Lawal, creating state police would make governors directly accountable for security while enabling state governments to recruit, equip, train and adequately fund law enforcement personnel based on local security realities.
He also expressed concern over the welfare of personnel in the Nigeria Police Force, citing inadequate funding, poor training and insufficient welfare packages as factors undermining the effectiveness of officers.
Highlighting his administration’s security investments, Lawal said the Zamfara State Government currently finances more than 30 per cent of security operations in the state.
He disclosed that the government has supplied more than 500 operational vehicles to security agencies over the past three years, in addition to 35 armoured personnel carriers and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles to strengthen the fight against banditry.
The governor added that the state had also acquired surveillance and attack drones to enhance intelligence gathering and improve operational capabilities against criminal groups.
Lawal maintained that the long-term solution to insecurity lies in strengthening security institutions through improved funding, modern equipment, advanced technology and better welfare for personnel, rather than negotiating with armed groups or paying ransom demands.
