National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has cautioned against paying ransoms to kidnappers and other criminals, stressing that doing so only fuels their activities.
Ribadu gave the warning while receiving over 60 recently rescued kidnap victims in Kaduna. The victims, held captive for over a month, included a civil service deputy director and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, all from Zango Kataf in Southern Kaduna.
Before handing the victims 35 men, 29 women, and several children over to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, Ribadu emphasized that families should stop funding kidnappers, as it only empowers them.
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“Giving ransom feeds the cycle of crime. The more money these criminals get, the more emboldened they become. We have never paid them a kobo,” Ribadu said.
He credited the successful rescue to the persistence and bravery of the armed forces and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting security agencies in their operations.
“This rescue is not the end. We’ll continue to pursue these criminals until justice is served,” Ribadu added.
Defence Minister Abubakar also praised the military and security operatives, highlighting the NSA’s relentless efforts and the importance of public cooperation through information sharing.
One of the rescued victims, Adesiyam Michael, expressed thanks to the authorities but shared a tragic detail—his wife was shot in front of him by the young kidnappers, many of whom were between 16 and 18 years old. He called for more support in educating and rehabilitating such youths to prevent future crimes.
