By Nworisa Michael
The Federal Government has once again reaffirmed its long-standing policy of refusing to pay ransom to kidnappers, insisting that rescue operations across the country are carried out through military pressure and intelligence-led strategies rather than negotiations with criminal groups.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, made the clarification during an interview with BBC Hausa, amid persistent public assumptions that ransom payments are often involved in securing the release of abducted victims, particularly schoolchildren. According to the minister, such assumptions do not reflect the operational realities of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The Federal Government does not pay ransom. Even if others do, the Federal Government does not. We do not negotiate with bandits,” the minister stated.
The defence minister explained that most victims are freed after sustained military operations force kidnappers to abandon captives while fleeing advancing troops. He noted that whenever schoolchildren or civilians are abducted, security forces immediately move into surrounding forests and hideouts to apply pressure on the criminals, leading to the recovery of victims without ransom payments. “People only assume ransom is paid. When children are kidnapped from schools, soldiers go into the forest, apply pressure, and the bandits flee, abandoning the victims. There is no issue of paying ransom,” he said.
The minister warned that paying ransom only emboldens criminal networks, providing them with funds to acquire weapons and sustain further attacks. He urged families, communities, and state authorities to desist from engaging in private negotiations with kidnappers and instead report incidents promptly to security agencies. “If someone is kidnapped, it should be reported immediately so that proper action can be taken,” he said.
The defence minister emphasized that intelligence from local communities remains one of the most effective tools in combating banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. He also cautioned against any form of collaboration with criminal groups, including selling food, fuel, or supplies to bandits. “Selling food or drinks to bandits is morally wrong and harmful to national security. That money is blood money,” he warned.
He further advised state governments against entering into peace agreements or amnesty deals with armed groups, describing such arrangements as deceptive and counterproductive. According to him, negotiated settlements often undermine military operations and give criminal groups time to regroup. He cited Katsina State as an example, noting that the Federal Government has consistently advised against peace initiatives with bandits operating in the state.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace nationwide, the minister stressed that sustained military action, intelligence gathering, and public cooperation remain the most effective strategies for defeating banditry. “Our goal every day is to ensure peace and security across the country,” he said.