Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has warned that ransom payments to bandits are helping to strengthen their operations by providing them with funds to acquire sophisticated weapons.
Lawal, speaking in an interview with Channels TV, said he remained opposed to negotiating with bandits and had maintained that position since assuming office.
“I would say this: my stance has always been no negotiation with the bandits. From day one, and I still maintain that stance,” he said.
According to the governor, ransom payments have turned kidnapping into a business and provided bandits with the financial resources to expand their criminal activities.
“People are going into this because it’s more like a business now: kidnapping people, asking for ransom. You are empowering the bandits.
“Because for every dime that you pay, that is what they use to get all these sophisticated weapons they use. If they don’t get the money, how do you think they’ll get the weapons?”
Lawal also recalled the kidnapping of two of his brothers, saying the abductors demanded a ransom of N300 million for each of them.
He said he refused to pay the ransom, arguing that giving money to the kidnappers would only strengthen their capacity to commit further crimes.
“You already have these people under your custody. You came to pick them yourself. They didn’t go there. They even came to their houses and picked them,” he said.
“And you expect me to pay money to secure their freedom? I said no, I would not do that.
“Because I would rather do something with that money. I’m a very strong believer that if they are meant to die, within that period, they would die.
“Nobody would do anything. But I would not give up my money to a criminal and empower him to do more.”
Lawal Rejects Negotiation With Bandits
The governor also criticised negotiations with bandits under previous administrations, arguing that the approach had failed to produce lasting results because the criminal groups lacked a central leadership structure.
He said negotiating with one group could prompt another to carry out further attacks in an attempt to gain recognition.
“It happens severally, and I’ve seen it. Where when you negotiate with A, B would think that you’re underrating him,” he said.
“And therefore, that is when he would show that he’s also, you know, somebody to recognise.
“So how do you go into negotiations with this kind of people? Nobody takes responsibility. Nobody takes leadership.”
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