President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to security agencies in the country, urging them to ensure the safe return of all kidnap victims and emphasizing a strict no-ransom-payment policy. This announcement came following a spike in kidnapping incidents, particularly in the Northwest region of Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, revealed this information to journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
President Tinubu’s directive was prompted by recent cases of abduction in Borno and Kaduna states. He instructed security and intelligence agencies to take immediate action for the release of the victims and assured families of prompt efforts for their safe return.
However, despite the government’s stance against ransom payments, kidnapping incidents have continued to occur, with perpetrators making exorbitant demands.
For instance, a group of kidnappers in Kaduna demanded N40 trillion, along with vehicles and motorcycles, for the release of 16 victims from Gonin-Gora. Similarly, in Sokoto State, bandits kidnapped 15 Qur’anic students and demanded N20 million in ransom.
In response to these developments, Minister Idris reiterated President Tinubu’s firm position against ransom payments during the FEC meeting. He emphasised the government’s commitment to rescuing all victims without any concessions to the kidnappers.
Idris stated, “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.”
Despite the challenges posed by these incidents, the government remains steadfast in its efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality across the country.
