FG does not pay ransom for kidnapped victims – Minister of Defence

The Federal Government has reiterated that it does not pay ransom for abducted victims, insisting that security agencies rely on military pressure and intelligence operations to secure releases.

Defence Minister Christopher Musa made the clarification in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored in Kaduna, amid persistent public belief that ransom payments are involved in freeing kidnapped victims, especially schoolchildren.

“The federal government does not pay ransom. Even if others do, the federal government does not. We do not pay ransom,” Musa said. He explained that rescued victims are typically freed after sustained operations by security forces.

“People only assume that ransom is paid. For example, whenever children are kidnapped from schools, soldiers go into the forest to apply pressure on the bandits so they will flee and abandon the children, and then we recover them. There is no issue of paying ransom,” he stated.

Musa warned that paying ransom strengthens criminal networks and encourages more abductions. “We also oppose it, because if it continues, it will encourage people to kidnap for money. That is why we say people should stop paying ransom,” he said.

He urged families and communities to report kidnapping incidents to security agencies rather than negotiating with abductors. “If someone is kidnapped, they should report to the security agencies so that proper action can be taken,” he added.

The minister also cautioned against community-level dealings with bandits, including supplying food and other items. “We constantly tell people to stop having dealings with bandits and to stop selling food or drinks to them,” he said.

Musa appealed for public cooperation, calling citizen intelligence critical to defeating banditry. “What people should understand is that if you sell food to them and they give you money, you are eating blood money, and that is not good,” he stated.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace and said sustained military action remains the most effective approach, alongside public support.

Musa further warned state governments against negotiating peace with bandits, describing such agreements as deceptive and counterproductive to national security efforts. He cited Katsina as an example and said the Federal Government had cautioned against peace initiatives with armed groups there.

He added that the federal government’s objective remains the restoration of peace across the country.