Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Rejects Bandit Ransom Payments

Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, announced his firm stance against paying ransom to bandits during an appearance on Channels Television. He argued that paying ransom only empowers bandits to acquire more sophisticated weapons.

Lawal recounted his refusal to pay ransom when his brothers were kidnapped, stating he would rather allocate the funds to other purposes. He expressed a belief that if his brothers were meant to die during the abduction, they would, and he would not financially support criminals.

Lawal criticized previous administrations for negotiating with bandits, asserting that such negotiations did not yield positive results due to the disorganized nature of the bandits. He noted that negotiating with one group could lead to resentment from others, complicating the situation further.

Lawal maintained that his position has always been against negotiations with bandits, viewing the kidnapping for ransom as a business that must be curtailed.