The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to cease paying unlawful ransoms to kidnappers and bandits.
The call was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Muhammadu Badaru at a briefing following the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Badaru stated that the payment would only encourage the perpetrators to demand more, endangering public safety and also disclosed that the President, during a meeting with service chiefs on Tuesday, urged security services to enhance efforts to apprehend criminals in society.
“Yesterday, we are aware that Mr. President called us and all the service chiefs to discuss this issue. So, concerted efforts are being made by security to stop it immediately.
“As you are aware, people are saying FCT, FCT. These kidnappings happen around the suburb, around locations that are bothering Kaduna and Niger states. And this is as a result of the current operations going on in the northwest and some parts of north central.
“The bandits are fleeing, and they are getting shelters around these areas, and the security agencies are working very hard to push them out, block the movement, and finish this thing once and for all,” he said.
He added that raising funds to pay ransom was an illegal act and an action that would further encourage the perpetrators to continue their nefarious acts.
The Senate passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, into law and particularly amended Section 14.
The section says, “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment, or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper, or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned, or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”
The minister urged Nigerians to avoid discussing security issues in public or the media because of their implications for thwarting criminals by security agencies.
He said Nigerians should manage the kidnapping situation intelligently and quietly to achieve a productive resolution of the incidents.