To push through his argument that negotiating with criminals only encourages more abductions, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has recounted refusing to pay a N300 million ransom demanded by bandits who kidnapped his brothers in 2019.
Speaking at the ARISE News and THISDAY Townhall Conference in Abuja, Lawal said he took a hard stance against the kidnappers despite the personal cost.
His words, “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.”
The governor disclosed that the kidnappers eventually released his brothers after three months in captivity without receiving any ransom payment.
“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more,” he said, adding that he believed criminals would think twice about abducting people if the payment of ransom stopped.
Lawal maintained that his position on ransom payments had not changed, insisting that “I will not negotiate, and I will not pay ransom to any criminal, no matter what happens.”
He pointed out that governors should be given operational control over security in their states if they are to be held accountable for protecting lives and property.
According to him, one of his frustrations as governor is being described as the state’s chief security officer without having authority over security agencies.
“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 said.
Lawal maintained that security remains the foundation of development and questioned how governors could be held responsible for insecurity when they lacked control over policing.
“Why is it difficult for people to understand that my primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property, and I don’t have that control? How do you hold me accountable?” he asked.
The governor said state police would enable citizens to hold elected leaders directly responsible for security outcomes, while also allowing states to provide adequate funding and training for personnel.
He argued that the Nigeria Police Force suffers from inadequate funding, insufficient training and poor welfare, factors he said affect officers’ effectiveness and commitment.
To support his argument, Lawal said Zamfara State has invested heavily in security operations, disclosing that his administration funds more than 30 per cent of security activities in the state.
He said the state had procured over 500 vehicles for security agencies in the last three years and recently provided 35 Armoured Personnel Carriers and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to support security operations.
The governor also highlighted the deployment of technology in the fight against insecurity.
“We bought drones, both surveillance drones and attack drones, to be able to aid the security forces in terms of fighting these criminals in their respective areas,” he said.
Lawal maintained that strengthening security agencies through funding, training and technology, rather than negotiating with armed groups, remained the best way to tackle banditry and kidnapping.
The governor’s remarks come amid growing national debate over state police and broader security reforms, with proponents arguing that devolving policing powers to states could improve accountability and enhance responses to local security threats.
