FG Breaks Silence On Kidnapping, Says No Kobo Paid As Ransom

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has restated its firm position that it does not pay ransom to secure the release of kidnapped persons, maintaining that victims are rescued through sustained military pressure and intelligence-driven operations.

The clarification was given by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, during an interview with BBC Hausa, amid widespread public perception that ransom payments are often used to free abducted victims, particularly schoolchildren.

Musa dismissed claims of financial negotiations with kidnappers, stressing that the Federal Government does not engage in ransom payments under any circumstances. He explained that many successful rescues credited to ransom are actually the outcome of coordinated security operations carried out by the military and other agencies.

He noted that in cases involving the abduction of schoolchildren, security forces are deployed into forest hideouts to exert pressure on armed groups, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives, who are subsequently rescued without any monetary exchange.

The defence minister warned that paying ransom only emboldens criminal networks and perpetuates the cycle of abduction, urging the public to refrain from such actions. He advised families and communities affected by kidnappings to promptly report incidents to security agencies rather than attempting to negotiate with abductors.

Musa also cautioned communities against engaging in any form of transaction with bandits, including the sale of food, drinks, or other supplies, describing such acts as morally wrong and detrimental to national security. He warned that benefiting financially from such dealings amounts to profiting from violence and bloodshed.

Additionally, the minister advised state governments against entering into peace agreements with bandits, describing such initiatives as misleading and ineffective. He cited Katsina State as an example, noting that the Federal Government had consistently discouraged negotiations with armed groups.

Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to restore peace and security across the country, emphasizing that sustained military operations, combined with public cooperation and timely intelligence sharing, remain the most effective strategy to curb kidnapping and banditry.