The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has reiterated that the Federal Government does not pay ransom to secure the release of abducted victims, stressing that military pressure and intelligence-led operations remain Nigeria’s primary rescue strategy.
Speaking in an interview, Musa dismissed widespread assumptions that ransom payments are made, particularly in cases involving kidnapped schoolchildren.
“The Federal Government does not pay ransom. Even if others do, the Federal Government does not. We do not pay ransom,” he stated.
According to the defence minister, victims are often rescued after sustained security operations force kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee.
“People only assume that ransom is paid. For instance, whenever children are abducted from schools, soldiers move into the forests to apply pressure on the bandits. They flee and abandon the children, and we recover them. There is no issue of paying ransom,” he explained.
Musa warned that paying ransom only strengthens criminal networks and fuels further kidnappings.
“We oppose ransom payments because they encourage people to kidnap for money. That is why we consistently advise Nigerians to stop paying ransom,” he said.
He urged families and communities to report abductions promptly to security agencies rather than engaging in negotiations with criminals.
“If someone is kidnapped, they should report to the security agencies so that appropriate action can be taken,” he added.
The minister also cautioned against collaborating with bandits, including supplying them with food or other essentials, describing such acts as harmful to national security.
“We constantly tell people to stop having dealings with bandits and to stop selling food or drinks to them,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of public cooperation, Musa noted that intelligence from citizens remains critical to security operations.
“What people must understand is that if you sell food to bandits and they give you money, you are taking blood money, and that is not good,” he warned.
Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace through sustained military action and intelligence operations, while cautioning state governments against negotiating peace deals with armed groups, citing Katsina State as an example.
