Zamfara Governor's Bold Stance: 'Kill My Brothers Instead of N300M Ransom!'

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has publicly declared his unwavering refusal to pay ransom to kidnappers, a stance he reiterated during his address at the ARISE News and THISDAY Townhall Conference in Abuja. The governor firmly believes that negotiating with criminals or acceding to their demands only serves to embolden them, thereby perpetuating the alarming rise of kidnapping for ransom across Nigeria. This conviction is rooted in his personal experience from 2019 when his own brothers were abducted.

During the incident in 2019, kidnappers demanded a staggering N300 million for the release of his brothers. Governor Lawal, however, stood firm in his resolve, refusing to negotiate or make any payment. He vividly recounted his declaration at the time: “My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals were demanding at the time about 300 million. And I said, look, I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them.” Despite his steadfast refusal, his brothers were eventually released after approximately three months in captivity, reinforcing his belief that criminal networks would be discouraged if they realized no financial gain could be secured from their abductions.

Governor Lawal emphasized that paying ransom acts as financial support for organized crime, creating a continuous cycle of abductions. He stated, “By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more.” He asserted that his position remains resolute and unchanged over the years: “I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens.” He argues that if kidnappers face a consistent lack of payment from victims' families or governments, their incentive for engaging in such crimes would diminish.

Beyond his firm stance on ransom, Governor Lawal utilized the conference platform to renew his passionate advocacy for the establishment of state police. He highlighted the significant anomaly in the current security architecture where governors, despite being widely recognized as chief security officers of their states, lack the constitutional authority and operational control to direct the actions of various security agencies. This disconnect places them in a precarious position, as they are held accountable for insecurity while being deprived of the direct command-and-control structures necessary to effectively maintain law and order. “In as much as I was called or I’m being called the chief security officer of the states, however, I don’t have the command and control structure to determine what happens or give instructions to some of these security officers,” he lamented.

The governor stressed that security forms the fundamental bedrock upon which all other aspects of development depend, making meaningful progress impossible without adequate protection of lives and property. He argued that establishing state police would enhance accountability among elected leaders, allowing citizens to directly assess their governors' performance in safeguarding their respective states. Furthermore, state governments would be better positioned to recruit, fund, equip, and train security personnel tailored to the unique security challenges prevalent within their jurisdictions. He also pointed out the existing constraints faced by the Nigeria Police Force, including inadequate funding, poor welfare, and insufficient training, all of which contribute to diminished effectiveness and morale.

Governor Lawal also detailed Zamfara State's proactive investments in bolstering its security apparatus. He revealed that his administration currently finances more than 30 percent of all security operations within the state. Over the past three years, the state government has procured over 500 operational vehicles for security agencies and recently acquired and handed over 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Additionally, the administration has embraced technological solutions, acquiring both surveillance and combat drones to aid security forces in their fight against criminals. He firmly believes that the true solution to Nigeria’s escalating insecurity lies in strengthening security institutions through improved funding, enhanced welfare, advanced training, and modern technology, rather than engaging in negotiations or paying ransom to armed groups. These comments come amidst ongoing national dialogues on decentralizing policing and implementing wider security sector reforms, with proponents advocating for increased accountability, improved intelligence gathering, and more rapid responses to local threats through state-controlled police forces.