The federal government Wednesday warned Nigerians against crowdfunding to pay ransoms for kidnapped victims, saying it will only increase the rate of abductions.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, gave the warning while fielding questions from State House reporters after the first federal cabinet meeting of 2024 presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He gave the advice following reports that Nigerians had raised over N50 million through crowdfunding to pay the ransom for the release of the remaining five Al-Kadriya daughters.
The minister said while the government was concerned about the kidnappings, paying ransoms through public donations would worsen the situation.
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“We all know there’s an existing law against payment of ransom. So, it is very sad for people to go over the internet, radio asking for donations to pay ransom. This will only worsen the situation. It will not help the situation at all as you have seen. Initially, they asked for N60 million and now because of this funding and I learnt somebody has raised N50 million already through friends and media, they jacked up the ransom,” Badaru added.
He appealed to Nigerians to desist from responding to ransom demands publicly, stating that the government’s position was to deprive the kidnappers of the profits which drive abductions.
“If we stop, overtime the kidnapping will not be profitable and they will stop. It is not easy though but that is the law. We want to call on the people to manage the kidnapping situation intelligently and very quietly, because talking too much about it most especially raising funds through the public, media is not productive at all and should be discontinued,” he said.
The minister also attributed the spike in the incidence of kidnappings in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the ongoing onslaught on bandits fleeing military operations in the Northwest and North Central zones.
“As you are aware, people are saying FCT, FCT, these kidnappings happen around the suburbs, around now and locations that are bordering Kaduna and Niger.
“And this is as a result of the current operations going on in the North West 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.
“The president has given us the marching order and all the support that we need and what the security agencies need to end this thing,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Garam, a border community between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were thrown into panic when bandits invaded the village on motorcycles, seeking direction to Jere, a community in Kaduna State.
A witness said the bandits brandishing AK 47, swords and arrows, spotted military camouflage, while some put on combat trousers, spent several minutes in the community.
The witness said, “On Monday afternoon, bandits numbering more than 100 came into Garam in broad daylight on bikes. The bikes were more than 40 and three bandits were on each bike. They openly displayed AK 47, they also had arrows and swords. Most people ran for their lives because they are not sure what will happen next.”
Another witness said she saw people running when the bandits came with their bikes.
Our correspondent learnt that the following day, the bandits invaded the community and raided houses to kidnap people.
“Since the last attack on January 2, most people have stopped sleeping at home. They come in the morning, and leave at night. But after two weeks of relative peace, some people decided to return and the same day, the bandits struck.”
Another resident whose house was attacked said they were just saved by the grace of God.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has launched the Special Intervention Squad with the sole responsibility of going after marauding bandits terrorising the nation’s capital.
The top cop also ordered battle-ready officers of the force to comb some hotspots being used as hideouts by the bandits in some satellite areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
This development, according to Egbetokun, was part of the strategies to curb activities of kidnappers and bandits, especially in border towns within the territory that have made lives unbearable for residents.
Daily Trust reports that the squad would be in charge of patrolling and securing the communities within the various borders of the FCT, and intervening to curb and mitigate violent attacks in the FCT.
