GIVE UP PAYING KIDNAPPERS A RANSOM. THE NIGERIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE ADVISES

Babatunji Wusu –

Muhammad Badaru, the Minister of Defense, revealed this to State House in a correspondence on Wednesday.

The caution follows news that Nigerians had used crowdsourcing to raise more than N50 million to cover the ransom required to free Mansoor Al-Kadriya’s remaining five daughters.

Badaru stated that although the administration is extremely worried about the kidnappings, the issue will worsen if ransoms are paid with public funds.

As everyone is aware, paying a ransom is illegal in the country. It is also incredibly depressing to see individuals pleading for funds to cover ransom over the radio and the internet. He said, “This won’t help; it will only make things worse.”

He asked Nigerians not to publicly reply to demands for ransom, pointing out that the government’s stance is to deprive kidnappers of the money that fuels their kidnappings. “If we stop, the kidnapping will eventually become unprofitable and cease. Although it is not simple, the law states as much.