The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning against the payment of ransom to terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the country. Ribadu’s call came after the rescue of over 60 individuals who had been held captive for more than a month by kidnappers in Kaduna, as a result of sustained military pressure.
Among the rescued victims were a deputy director in the civil service and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. They were part of a group from Zango Kataf in Southern Kaduna who had been abducted by criminals. The rescued victims, including 35 males, 29 females, and children, were handed over to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar.
Speaking before the handover, Ribadu urged Nigerians, particularly families of kidnapped victims, to stop paying ransom, emphasizing that such payments only fuel the criminal enterprise and encourage further abductions. He said, “Let me urge our people, families to stop giving ransom to these criminals. Please stop giving money to these people. The more money you give, the more you compound the problem. We have never given any money to any of these people. Giving money to these evil people is counterproductive. The more money you give them, the more they request for more money.”
Ribadu praised the resilience of the armed forces, which had tracked and pursued the kidnappers to their hideouts. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the unwavering support provided to the security agencies, which has enabled the successful rescue operations.
“Daily, we are getting our brothers and sisters rescued from the hands of these evil people. But releasing them is not the end of the matter. We will go after them and they will face the consequences,” Ribadu added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, commended the efforts of the armed forces and security agencies, which have been working tirelessly under the coordination of the NSA. He emphasized the importance of information from the public in the fight against criminals, urging Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by providing vital intelligence.
“We have been working day and night, and I know the NSA does not sleep, all in a bid to ensure these security issues are resolved. I want to thank Nigerians for the trust they are showing and for providing information which is assisting these successes. They should continue to have that trust in us, give us support by providing information because information is needed to overcome these evil people,” Abubakar said.
One of the rescued victims, Adesiyam Michael, expressed his gratitude to the security operatives for their efforts in securing his release, highlighting the crucial role played by the forces in overcoming the criminals’ hold on their captives.
