Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that he refused to pay a N300 million ransom when his brothers were kidnapped in 2019, saying he would never negotiate with criminals because doing so only fuels more abductions.
The governor made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking at the ARISE News and THISDAY Town Hall Conference in Abuja, where he stressed the need for a stronger security framework, including the establishment of state police.
Recounting the incident, Lawal said the kidnappers demanded N300 million for the release of his brothers, but he declined to pay despite the risks involved.
“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and the kidnappers demanded about N300 million. I told them I was not going to pay a dime. If they wanted, they could kill them,” he said.
According to the governor, his brothers eventually regained their freedom after spending three months in captivity without any ransom being paid.
Lawal argued that paying ransom encourages criminal groups to continue targeting innocent people.
“Once we keep paying ransom, we are only encouraging them to kidnap more people. I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter the circumstances,” he stated.
The governor also renewed his call for the creation of state police, maintaining that governors are unfairly blamed for insecurity despite lacking operational control over security agencies.
He noted that although governors are regarded as the chief security officers of their states, they do not have the authority to direct security personnel.
“My primary responsibility is to protect lives and property, yet I do not have the command and control structure over the security agencies. How then can I be held fully accountable?” he asked.
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