The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has warned families of abducted victims to stop paying ransom to bandits because it encourages kidnapping. 

“These people, the more you give, the more you are compounding the problems for us. We have never given anybody a dime. We don’t. And we don’t want people to do so. Please, stop it. Inadvertently, we may be helping this thing (kidnapping for ransom),” said the NSA. “We are saying enough is enough. We will not be able to stop this thing quickly if people continue to give them money. I want to make a very strong appeal to all.”

Mr Ribadu stated this on Tuesday in Kaduna, where he received over 60 kidnap victims rescued by Nigerian security agents.

“I want to also use the opportunity to talk to our people. Please stop giving money to these people (bandits/kidnappers). It’s one of the worst things that is happening. It’s the most difficult thing we are facing,” Mr Ribadu added. “Many of these people, as you see them, their families have given money to these people. But it did not lead to their own release. It is we, the security forces, that have got them out.”

Mr Ribadu stated that paying ransom to secure the release of kidnap victims would worsen insecurity in Nigeria.

“The whole essence is to get money, and if you continue to give them, you are actually saying go and do more and more. We are appealing to our people, to the country, to everybody, that please, let’s stop giving this money. Give us a chance for us to do the work. We will get it done,” Mr Ribadu said.

Meanwhile, defence minister Mohammed Badaru pledged that Nigerians would “see end to insecurity in this country.”

“The fact that in recent times we have seen the trust, the information they give now to us to face these challenges,” the defence minister said. “So, I continue to urge the citizens to continue to give us vital information that will lead to operations like this so that we’ll continue to fight the bad people to the end.”