The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has asked Nigerians to stop paying ransom to kidnappers and bandits.
Ribadu stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving 60 kidnap victims recently rescued from captivity in Zangon Kataf LGAS in the Southern Kaduna senatorial district of Kaduna State following sustained military operations.
He insisted that ransom payment was not leading to freedom for the victims as only the military offensive was capable of freeing the abductees from captivity, adding that the government don’t pay ramson to kidnappers.
“Please stop giving money to these people (abductors), it is the most difficult thing we are facing,” the NSA said. “Many of these people (kidnap victims), their families have given money to these people (kidnappers) but it did not lead to their own release. It is we the security forces that have brought them out.
“It is not the money that they are giving. These people, the more you give, the more you compound the problem for us. We have never given anybody a dime and we don’t want people to do so,” Ribadu added.
According to the NSA, Nigerians encourage the activities of kidnappers nationwide if they keep paying ransom to the criminals.
Ribadu attributed the successful rescue of the victims to the efforts and resilience of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“Let me specially commend our armed forces and security services. Their tireless pursuit of these criminals is the reason we are here today,” he noted.
Ribadu also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for his consistent support of the nation’s security architecture. “Thanks to the commitment of Mr. President, we are making progress daily. However, the release of victims is not the end. We will continue to pursue these perpetrators and ensure they face justice.”
The 64 victims, who had been held for over a month in captivity, included a Deputy Director in the civil service and a relative of Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah.
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