FG Does Not Pay Ransom For Any Kidnapped Victims – Defence Minister

The Federal Government has reiterated that it does not pay ransom for the release of kidnapped victims, despite widespread public assumptions to the contrary. The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Musa, made this clarification during an interview with BBC Hausa, monitored by Daily Trust. He stressed that the government relies on military pressure and intelligence-driven operations to secure the release of abducted persons, particularly schoolchildren. “The federal government does not pay ransom. Even if others do, the federal government does not. We do not pay ransom,” Musa said. According to him, victims rescued from kidnappers are often freed after sustained military operations that force bandits to flee and abandon their captives. “People only assume that ransom is paid. For example, whenever children are kidnapped from schools, soldiers go into the forest to apply pressure on the bandits so they will flee and abandon the children, and then we recover them. There is no issue of paying ransom,” he explained. The defence minister warned that ransom payments only strengthen criminal networks and encourage further kidnappings, stressing that the government strongly opposes such practices. “We also oppose it, because if it continues, it will encourage people to kidnap for money. That is why we say people should stop paying ransom,” he said. Musa urged families and communities to report kidnapping incidents promptly to security agencies rather than engaging in negotiations with abductors. “If someone is kidnapped, they should report to the security agencies so that proper action can be taken,” he added. He also cautioned communities against having any form of dealings with bandits, including supplying them with food, drinks, or other necessities. “We constantly tell people to stop having dealings with bandits and to stop selling food or drinks to them,” Musa said, adding that such actions amount to supporting criminal activities. “What people should understand is that if you sell food to them and they give you money, you are taking blood money, and that is not good,” he noted. The minister emphasized the importance of public cooperation, noting that intelligence from citizens remains critical to the fight against banditry across the country. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace through sustained military action and public support, while also cautioning state governments against negotiating peace deals with bandits. Citing Katsina State as an example, Musa said the Federal Government had advised against peace initiatives with armed groups, emphasizing that lasting peace can only be achieved through a unified national security approach.