Bandits Kidnapped My Brothers, Demanded ₦300m Ransom — Gov Lawal

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that bandits once abducted his brothers and demanded ₦300 million for their release, but he refused to pay the ransom.

The governor disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking on efforts to tackle insecurity, maintaining that he remains opposed to negotiating with criminal groups.

Lawal said paying ransom only strengthens the operations of kidnappers and encourages further abductions across the country.

According to him, the incident occurred in 2019 when armed bandits kidnapped his brothers and demanded hundreds of millions of naira before they would release them.

Recalling the experience, the governor said he stood his ground despite the pressure, insisting that he would not finance criminal activities through ransom payments.

“My own brothers were kidnapped in 2019, and these criminals demanded ₦300 million. I told them, ‘I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go ahead and kill them,’” he said.

Lawal argued that yielding to ransom demands would only embolden criminal groups to continue targeting innocent Nigerians for financial gain.

He stressed that the country must adopt more decisive security measures aimed at dismantling criminal networks instead of rewarding them with ransom payments.

The governor also reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, describing it as a necessary step toward improving security across Nigeria.

He said state governments should be empowered to establish and adequately fund their own police formations to complement the efforts of federal security agencies.

According to Lawal, local policing would enable quicker responses to security threats because personnel would possess better knowledge of the terrain and communities they serve.

He added that his administration remains committed to supporting every legitimate initiative capable of restoring peace and protecting lives and property in Zamfara State.

The North West state has remained one of the regions most affected by banditry, with attacks on communities, kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling continuing despite ongoing military operations.

Lawal maintained that ending insecurity requires a combination of effective policing, improved intelligence gathering and sustained government commitment, insisting that refusing to pay ransom is an important step in weakening the financial strength of criminal groups operating across the country.