The government of Nigeria is full of hopes that the hundreds of citizens in the kidnappers’ den would be freed while saying it would not pay “a dime” to any criminal group as a ransom.
Terrorists who are on a rampage in Nigeria, targeting schools, villages and highways often release their victims after weeks or months in captivity following negotiations with families or authorities, though officials deny ransom payments are made.
Families and entire communities pool their savings to pay ransoms, despite a 2022 law that banned handing money to kidnappers. Many families say they have little faith in the authorities and feel they have no choice.
Terrorists are demanding N100 million to release a bride and her bridesmaids abducted in Katsina on 1 February and N40 trillion to free Gonin Gora locals abducted on 28 February.
The position of the Nigerian authorities on ransom payment was made known to the press on Wednesday by the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Idris said President Bola Tinubu gave security forces an order to close all channels for ransom payments while working to bring back recently abducted schoolchildren from Kaduna and Sokoto, and other victims.
“The President has directed that security agencies must as a matter of urgency, ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back in safety and also in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom,” the Minister said.
“So, the security agencies are working round the clock. These children and people that have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon.”
