Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State recently shared that he chose not to pay a ₦300 million ransom when his brothers were abducted in 2019. He maintained that providing funds to criminals only serves to incentivize further kidnappings. Speaking at the ARISE News/THISDAY Town Hall Conference on State Police and National Security in Abuja, Lawal stated he was willing to risk the lives of his siblings rather than feed a cycle of criminality.
The governor noted that his brothers were held for three months before being released without any payment. He emphasized that his refusal to negotiate with bandits remains his firm stance, regardless of the situation. Lawal also used the platform to advocate for the creation of state police forces. He argued that while governors are labeled the chief security officers of their states, they currently lack the necessary command and control over security agencies to effectively manage threats.
Lawal expressed support for funding local police departments, asserting that decentralizing law enforcement would enhance intelligence gathering and improve response times against criminal elements.
