Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed his opposition to negotiating with bandits operating in the state.
Speaking during a media chat in Gusau on Monday, Lawal warned that ransom payments encourage kidnappers and provide them with funds to purchase weapons. He argued that bandits increasingly view kidnapping as a profitable business.
“My stance has always been no negotiation with bandits from day one and I still maintain that,” the governor said.
Lawal urged Nigerians to recognise the wider consequences of paying ransoms, stressing that such payments strengthen criminal groups and prolong insecurity.
