Nigeria’s President Declares No More Ransom Payments to Kidnappers: A Bold Stand Against Crime and Economic Challenges

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the country will no longer pay ransom to armed gangs that have been involved in kidnapping and extortion. The statement was made as activists commemorated the 10th anniversary of the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok. Tinubu acknowledged that legitimate concerns over kidnappings persist and emphasized the need to address the root causes of poverty, inequality, and a lack of opportunity. He stated that ransom payments to gangs only encouraged them to commit more crimes and that the extortion racket must be squeezed out of existence. Instead of ransom, perpetrators of violence will receive the security services’ counter actions.

Tinubu cited the recent rescue of 137 school students kidnapped in Kaduna state, where their abductors demanded $600,000 in ransom, but no ransom was paid. Security analyst Senator Iroegbu emphasized the lack of accountability from authorities as the main concern. He said Nigeria must ultimately address the triggers for insecurity, including poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity.

Tinubu also discussed his economic reforms, which he said were necessary to save public finances and encourage foreign investment. He said previous governments had failed to boost the economy, and 63% of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor. Iroegbu said blaming predecessors will not solve Tinubu’s problems, and he ended his article by saying, “there will be no more ransoms paid to kidnappers nor towards policies which have trapped our people economically.”