Zamfara Gov: I rejected N300m ransom, asked kidnappers to kill my brothers

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State 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 the criminals rather than encourage the growing menace of kidnapping for ransom. The governor said his decision was based on his conviction […]

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State 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 the criminals rather than encourage the growing menace of kidnapping for ransom.

The governor said his decision was based on his conviction that paying ransom only emboldens criminal groups to continue abducting innocent people.

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

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

“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.”

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

Lawal maintained that his experience reinforced his belief that ransom payments only strengthen criminal networks and fuel more abductions.

“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more.”

He argued that if kidnappers realise they cannot obtain money from victims’ families or governments, they would be discouraged from engaging in the crime.

The governor stressed that his position has remained unchanged over the years, insisting that he would never negotiate with or reward criminals.

“I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens.”

Lawal made the remarks while advocating for the creation of state police, arguing that governors should have operational control over security architecture in their states if they are expected to guarantee the safety of residents.

He lamented that although governors are widely regarded as chief security officers of their states, they lack constitutional authority to direct the operations of the various security agencies.

“In as much as I was called or I’m being called the chief security officer of the states, however, I don’t have the command and control structure to determine what happens or give instructions to some of these security officers.”

According to him, the current arrangement places governors in a difficult position, as they are held responsible for insecurity despite having no direct control over the police and other security agencies operating within their states.

Lawal described security as the foundation upon which every other aspect of development depends, saying meaningful progress cannot be achieved where lives and property are not adequately protected.

“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?”

The governor said establishing state police would make elected leaders more accountable to the people, as citizens would be able to directly assess the performance of their governors in maintaining law and order.

He also argued that state governments would be better positioned to recruit, fund, equip and train security personnel based on the peculiar security challenges in their respective states.

Lawal further noted that the Nigeria Police Force is constrained by inadequate funding, poor welfare and insufficient training, challenges he said have continued to affect the effectiveness and morale of officers.

Highlighting Zamfara State’s investment in security, the governor disclosed that his administration currently finances more than 30 per cent of security operations carried out within the state.

He said that over the past three years, the state government had procured more than 500 operational vehicles for security agencies to strengthen their capacity to combat banditry and other violent crimes.

Lawal also revealed that the government recently acquired and handed over 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to support ongoing security operations.

The governor added that his administration has embraced technology in the fight against insecurity through the acquisition of both surveillance and combat drones.

“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 maintained that the solution to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity lies in strengthening security institutions through improved funding, better welfare, enhanced training and modern technology rather than negotiating or paying ransom to armed groups.

Lawal’s comments come amid renewed national conversations on the creation of state police and wider security sector reforms, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing would improve accountability, enhance intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security threats across the country.