The Federal Government has reaffirmed its long-standing stance that it does not negotiate with kidnappers through ransom payments, stressing that the rescue of abducted victims is achieved through sustained military operations and intelligence-led strategies.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, made the clarification during an interview with BBC Hausa monitored in Kaduna, amid widespread public belief that ransom payments are often made to secure the release of kidnapped victims, particularly schoolchildren.
According to Musa, such assumptions do not reflect the government’s official policy or the operational realities of security agencies on the ground.
“The federal government does not pay ransom under any circumstance,” the defence minister said, adding that rescue missions are driven by tactical pressure rather than financial negotiations.
He explained that in many abduction cases, especially those involving schools, troops are deployed into forests and other identified hideouts to destabilise criminal gangs, forcing them to abandon their captives while fleeing from advancing security forces.
“People assume money is exchanged, but what actually happens is that our forces apply pressure until the criminals can no longer hold their ground,” Musa stated.
The minister warned that paying ransom, even at the community or family level, only empowers criminal networks and fuels the cycle of abductions across the country.
He urged citizens to immediately report kidnapping incidents to security agencies instead of opening private channels of negotiation with abductors.
“Once incidents are reported, the right intelligence and response can be activated,” he said, noting that delays often complicate rescue efforts.
Musa also cautioned communities against maintaining any form of relationship with bandits, including supplying them with food, drinks, or other necessities, describing such actions as indirectly sustaining criminal activities.
“When people trade with these groups, they are helping violence to thrive,” he said, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ending banditry.
Furthermore, the defence minister advised state governments to avoid peace deals with armed groups, warning that such arrangements are often deceptive and undermine national security operations.
He cited previous warnings issued to states like Katsina, insisting that the Federal Government’s daily objective remains the restoration of peace through consistent military action, credible intelligence, and strong public support.