"I Told Kidnappers to Kill My Brothers’: Gov Lawal Rejects N300m Ransom, Backs State Police

By Victor Idajili

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, says he refused to pay N300 million ransom when his brothers were abducted in 2019, insisting that paying criminals only fuels more kidnappings.

Speaking on Thursday at the ARISE News and THISDAY Townhall Conference in Abuja, Lawal said he took a firm position despite the personal risk.

“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding at the time about 300 million. And I said, look, I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them,” the governor stated.

He said his brothers were eventually released after three months in captivity without any ransom paid.

“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more,” Lawal argued. “I believed criminals would think twice about abducting people if ransom payments stopped.”

He maintained that his stance remains unchanged.  
“I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens,” he declared.

The governor used the forum to renew his push for state police, saying governors cannot be held accountable for security when they have no control over security agencies.

“In as much as I was called or I’m being called the chief security officer of the states, however, I don’t have the command and control structure to determine what happens or give instructions to some of these security officers,” he said.

“Why is it difficult for people to understand that my primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property, and I don’t have that control? How do you hold me accountable?”

Lawal said state policing would make it easier for citizens to hold elected leaders responsible for security, and would allow states to properly fund, train and equip personnel.

He criticized the Nigeria Police Force for what he described as inadequate funding, poor training and weak welfare, which he said affects officers’ effectiveness.

  
To back his argument, the governor disclosed that Zamfara funds over 30% of security operations in the state. 

In the last three years, he said, the state procured more than 500 vehicles for security agencies, and recently provided 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers and MRAPs.  
The administration also acquired surveillance and attack drones to support troops in tracking and confronting bandits.

“Strengthening security agencies through funding, training and technology, rather than negotiating with armed groups, remains the best way to tackle banditry and kidnapping,” Lawal said.