The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning against the practice of paying ransom to terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminals in the country. This advisory was made public during a ceremony in which over 60 individuals, who had been held hostage for more than a month, were rescued by security forces in Kaduna.
The rescued victims, who were predominantly from Zango Kataf in Southern Kaduna, included 35 men, 29 women, and several children. Among them were a deputy director in the civil service and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. They were freed after sustained military operations targeted at criminal hideouts.
In his address, Mallam Ribadu advised Nigerians, especially the families of kidnapping victims, to refrain from paying ransoms. He stated that giving money to criminals is fueling their activities and making the situation worse. “Let me urge our people, families to stop giving ransom to these criminals. Please stop giving money to these people. The more money you give, the more you compound the problem,” Ribadu stressed.
He further noted that paying ransoms was not only ineffective in stopping kidnappings but also encouraged the criminals to demand even higher sums in the future. Ribadu mentioned that the Nigerian government had never paid ransom in such situations, and continued efforts to stop this practice were crucial for the country’s security.
Ribadu also expressed his gratitude to the military and other security agencies for their relentless efforts in rescuing the victims. He lauded the resilience and dedication of the armed forces in tracking and neutralizing the criminal elements. “Daily, we are getting our brothers and sisters rescued from the hands of these evil people. But releasing them is not the end of the matter. We will go after them, and they will face the consequences,” Ribadu added.
During the event, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, also commended the armed forces for their unwavering commitment to fighting insecurity. He highlighted the importance of community support in resolving security issues, emphasizing that timely information from the public had been critical in achieving the recent successes. “We have been working day and night, and I know the NSA does not sleep, all in a bid to ensure these security issues are resolved,” Abubakar said. He further urged Nigerians to continue providing valuable information to assist the efforts.
One of the freed victims, Adesiyam Michael, expressed gratitude to the security forces for their hard work in securing his release. He shared a painful experience, stating that his wife was shot in front of him by the kidnappers. He noted that the individuals involved in such crimes were often young and uneducated, which he believed played a role in driving them into criminal activities. “These boys are young, with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years. They lack training, they lack education. Something has to be done to get their likes to go for training because they don’t have any experience to do any other trade or skill,” he said.
