Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar conveyed the caution on Wednesday, emphasizing that such practices exacerbate the situation and incentivize criminals to escalate demands following kidnappings, making criminal activities more appealing.

Abubakar delivered the warning during a press briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja.

The Minister addressed the backdrop of a recent incident where over N50 million was raised through crowdfunding to secure the release of the remaining five daughters of Mansoor Al-Kadriya, kidnapped in Abuja.

Nevertheless, Badaru maintained that while the government is concerned about kidnappings, resorting to crowdfunding for ransom won’t contribute to a solution.

“There’s an existing law against the payment of ransom. So, it is very sad for people to go over the internet, radio asking for donations to pay ransom. This will only worsen the situation; it will not help,” Badaru emphasized.

The Minister asserted that by withholding ransom payments, kidnappers would be deprived of funds, ultimately dissuading them from criminal activities.

“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,” he stated.

Abuja Insecurity

Elaborating further, the Minister identified the criminals responsible for recent kidnappings in Abuja as those evading military operations in the Northwest and North Central zones.

He affirmed that the government and security forces are diligently working to apprehend the bandits and prevent further abductions, emphasizing that President Bola Tinubu has given explicit directives to eradicate the menace.

“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,” Abubakar explained.

“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.”