Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that he once refused to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by kidnappers for the release of his brothers, insisting he would rather they were killed than negotiate with criminals.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Lawal said the incident happened before he became governor.
According to him, the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million, but he rejected the demand outright and told them to carry out their threat if they wished.
“I told them I wasn’t going to pay a kobo. If they wanted to kill them, they should go ahead,” the governor said.
Lawal explained that paying ransom only strengthens criminal groups and encourages more kidnappings, adding that he has consistently maintained a policy against negotiating with bandits.
He said the abductors eventually released his brothers without receiving any ransom.
The governor reiterated that his administration would not adopt ransom payments as a strategy for tackling insecurity in Zamfara, arguing that the practice fuels further criminal activities.
Lawal said his government remains committed to improving security through collaboration with security agencies and other measures aimed at restoring peace across the state.
The governor has repeatedly maintained that lasting solutions to banditry require decisive action rather than financial concessions to criminal groups.
