Zamfara Governor Lawal Rejects ₦300 Million Ransom in Brothers' Kidnapping Case
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has disclosed he refused a ₦300 million ransom demand for the release of his kidnapped brothers in 2019, reaffirming his administration’s stance against negotiating with bandits.
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Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed he rejected a ₦300 million ransom demand for the safe return of his brothers, who were kidnapped in 2019. Speaking at the ARISE News/THISDAY Town Hall Conference, Lawal emphasized that yielding to such demands only emboldens criminal elements and perpetuates the cycle of kidnapping in Nigeria’s northwest region.
“I refused to pay ransom,” Lawal stated, according to Vanguard News. “Paying ransom only fuels kidnapping and other criminal activities.” The governor’s disclosure underscores a broader policy position: his administration will not negotiate with or financially reward bandits, even in cases involving close family members.
The incident, which occurred during a period of heightened insecurity in Zamfara State, has now been publicly addressed by Lawal as an example of personal and political resolve. Naija News reported that Lawal insisted his government would not engage in ransom negotiations, framing the decision as both a moral and strategic stand against organized crime.
Zamfara has long been affected by armed banditry, with frequent abductions for ransom destabilizing communities and straining state resources. Lawal’s refusal to pay, despite personal risk, signals a firm stance amid national debates over how to confront the kidnapping epidemic. His account, shared nearly seven years after the abduction, adds a rare personal dimension to discussions on state responses to insecurity.