Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has expressed worry about Nigerians frequently paying money to free kidnapped individuals, especially the rising trend of gathering funds on social media.Â
He mentioned this during a discussion with Press after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He emphasized that collecting significant amounts to release abductees not only violates the law but also contributes to the problem of kidnapping in the country.
Badaru explained that these incidents often occur in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), particularly in suburbs around areas bordering Kaduna and Niger states.
The ongoing operations in the northwest and parts of North-central have caused bandits to seek refuge in these locations.
Security agencies are actively working to drive out these criminals, and the president has provided necessary support for these efforts. However, the minister expressed concern about the growing practice of crowd-funding to pay ransoms.
He highlighted the existing law against ransom payments and emphasized the negative impact of seeking donations online or through media channels.
Badaru recounted a specific incident where a group initially demanded N60 million for the release of hostages.
Due to public fundraising efforts, the ransom amount increased to N100 million, showing how such actions can inadvertently worsen the situation.
The minister stressed the need to halt this practice, asserting that if people stop paying ransoms, kidnapping will become less profitable over time, leading to a decrease in such incidents.
“We believe we have to stop it, as painful as it is. We have to stop responding to payment of ransom. If we stop, over time, the kidnapping will not be profitable and they will stop.
Despite acknowledging the difficulty of this approach, Badaru emphasized adherence to the law.
He urged the public to handle kidnapping situations discreetly and intelligently, cautioning against excessive discussion and fundraising through public platforms, as it may not be productive.
The minister’s statement followed a series of tragic kidnappings on the outskirts of Abuja, with one incident leading to the loss of three lives due to delays in ransom payments.
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, further complicated the situation by endorsing crowd funding for ransom after a significant contribution was made anonymously.
This has raised concerns on social media about the potential encouragement of similar incidents in the future.
