Zamfara Governor Refuses N300M Ransom for Brothers

Zamfara State Governor Lawal declared that he would not pay the N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers for his abducted brothers in 2019, stating he would rather have them killed than encourage criminal activity through ransom payments. Speaking at a town hall conference in Abuja, he maintained that paying ransom emboldens criminal groups and leads to more kidnappings.

Lawal emphasized that his stance against ransom payments remains unchanged, asserting that negotiations with kidnappers would not occur under any circumstances. He also advocated for the establishment of a state police force, arguing that the governor cannot be held accountable for insecurity without direct control over security agencies operating in the state.

Lawal criticized the current security architecture, noting that the state government has allocated 30 percent of its finances to security operations and has invested in purchasing vehicles and technology to enhance security efforts.