Paying Ransom Only Encourages More Kidnappings, NSA Ribadu Tells Nigerians
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has urged Nigerians to stop paying ransom to kidnappers, warning that such actions only fuel criminality across the country.
Ribadu issued the warning in Kaduna while receiving over 60 rescued kidnap victims, including a deputy director in the civil service and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The victims, held in captivity for more than a month, were freed following a series of coordinated military operations in Southern Kaduna.
Handing the victims — 35 males and 29 females, including children — over to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, Ribadu stressed that ransom payments embolden criminals.
“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,” he said.
“We have never given any money to any of these people. Giving money to these evil people is counterproductive. The more money you give them, the more they request for more.”
He credited the Nigerian Armed Forces for the successful rescue and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing those behind the kidnappings.
“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.
Defence Minister Mohammed Abubakar applauded the coordination led by Ribadu and commended the security agencies for their efforts.
“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,” he said.
He also urged citizens to continue supplying intelligence to security agencies, saying, “They should continue to have that trust in us, give us support by providing information because information is needed to overcome these evil people.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
