Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has revealed that he once told kidnappers to kill his brothers rather than pay a ₦300 million ransom, insisting that paying criminals only fuels further abductions. His stance underscores his broader call for state police and stronger security accountability in Nigeria.
A Governor’s Defiance Against Ransom Payments
In a country where kidnapping for ransom has become a devastating scourge, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has taken a hardline position that shocks many but resonates with others.
Speaking at a national town hall meeting in Abuja, Lawal recounted a harrowing personal ordeal: in 2019, his brothers were abducted, and bandits demanded ₦300 million. His response was unflinching - “I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them.”
Lawal’s refusal was not born of indifference but of conviction. He argued that ransom payments embolden criminals, creating a vicious cycle where each successful extortion leads to more kidnappings. His brothers, after three months in captivity, were eventually released without any ransom paid.
This outcome, though rare, reinforced his belief that standing firm against ransom demands can deter future crimes.
The governor’s revelation came during discussions on the need for state police. Lawal emphasized that governors are labeled “chief security officers” of their states yet lack operational control over security agencies.
He questioned the fairness of holding governors accountable for insecurity when they cannot command the police or military forces deployed in their regions.
His advocacy for state police is rooted in the idea of accountability: if governors are given authority over policing, citizens can directly judge their effectiveness in safeguarding lives and property. Without such control, he argues, governors remain powerless scapegoats in Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
Lawal’s stance is undeniably controversial. Many Nigerians, faced with the trauma of abduction, would pay any price to save loved ones. Yet his refusal highlights a painful truth: ransom payments sustain the kidnapping economy.
By publicly sharing his personal ordeal, Lawal has positioned himself as a leader willing to endure personal loss for the greater good of society.
The governor’s comments reignite debate about Nigeria’s security architecture. Should families and governments categorically refuse ransom payments, even at the risk of losing lives? Can state police provide the localized, accountable security structure Nigeria desperately needs?
Lawal’s experience forces the nation to confront these questions with urgency.
Governor Lawal’s defiance is more than a personal anecdote; it is a call
to rethink Nigeria’s fight against banditry. His story illustrates the tension
between personal sacrifice and public responsibility, and it challenges both
leaders and citizens to consider whether short-term relief through ransom
payments is worth the long-term perpetuation of insecurity.
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