The Nigerian Government has cautioned the public against crowdfunding to pay ransoms for kidnapped victims, saying it will only increase the rate of abductions.
Badaru cautioned the public following reports that Nigerians have raised over N50 million through crowdfunding to pay the ransom for the release of the remaining five Al-Kadriya daughters.
Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister said that while the government is concerned about the kidnappings, paying ransom through public donations will increase the problem.
“We all know there’s an existing law against payment of ransom. So, it is very sad for people to go over the internet, and radio asking for donations to pay ransom. This will only worsen the situation, it will not help,” Badaru said.
He appealed to Nigerians to desist from responding to ransom demands publicly, noting that the government’s position is to deprive the kidnappers of the profits that drive abductions.
“If we stop, over time the kidnapping will not be profitable and they will stop. It is not easy though but that is the law,” Badaru said.
According to the Minister, the recent kidnappings in the suburbs of the FCT are happening following the consistent onslaught of bandits fleeing military operations in the Northwest and North Central zones.
Badaru said;“As you are aware, people are saying FCT, FCT, these kidnappings happen around the suburb, around now and locations that are bothering Kaduna and Niger.
“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.
“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.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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