I rejected N300m ransom demand when kidnappers seized my brothers — Zamfara gov
Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has disclosed that he declined to pay a N300 million ransom after his brothers were abducted in 2019, maintaining that yielding to kidnappers only emboldens criminal activities.
Lawal made the revelation on Thursday while speaking at the Arise News and ThisDay Townhall Conference in Abuja, where he defended his longstanding opposition to ransom payments despite the personal consequences.
“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding at the time about 300 million. And I said, look, I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them,” the governor said.
According to him, the abductors eventually freed his brothers after they spent three months in captivity, without collecting any ransom.
“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more,” he said.
Lawal argued that kidnappings would reduce if victims’ families and governments stopped paying criminals.
“I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens,” he declared.
The governor made the comments while advocating for the creation of state police, insisting that governors should have operational authority over security agencies if they are to be held responsible for protecting lives and property.
He lamented that although governors are designated as chief security officers of their states, they lack the powers required to direct security operations.
“In as much as I was called or I’m being called the chief security officer of the state, however, I don’t have the command and control structure to determine what happens or give instructions to some of these security officers,” he said.
Lawal questioned the rationale behind holding governors accountable for insecurity when they have no direct control over policing.
“Why is it difficult for people to understand that my primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property, and I don’t have that control? How do you hold me accountable?” he asked.
He maintained that establishing state police would make elected leaders directly answerable for security within their jurisdictions, while enabling state governments to properly finance, equip and train personnel.
The governor further argued that the Nigeria Police Force is constrained by poor funding, inadequate training and weak welfare packages, factors he said undermine officers’ performance and morale.
Highlighting Zamfara’s contributions to security efforts, Lawal said his administration currently finances more than 30 per cent of security operations across the state.
He added that the state government had acquired over 500 operational vehicles for security agencies in the past three years and recently supplied 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to strengthen ongoing operations.
Lawal also said technology has become a critical part of the state’s security strategy.
“We bought drones, both surveillance drones and attack drones, to be able to aid the security forces in terms of fighting these criminals in their respective areas,” he said.
