Our Correspondent
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has warned Nigerians against payment of ransom to terrorists, kidnappers and other criminals, saying it is making the matter worse.
Ribadu disclosed this on Tuesday while handing over 60 rescued kidnapped victims to their families.
He said the rescued victims are proof that security agencies are competent enough to return abducted citizens to their families without ransom payments.
Speaking shortly before handing over the rescued victims, comprising 35 males and 29 females, as well as children to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, Ribadu advised Nigerians, especially families of kidnapped victims, to stop paying ransom to kidnappers.
According to him, payment of ransom is the engine encouraging the criminals to continue in their evil deeds.
He said: “Let me urge our people, families to stop giving ransom to these criminals. Please stop giving money to there people. The more money you give, the more you compound the problem.
“We have never given any money to any of these people. Giving money to these evil people is counter productive. The more money you give them, the more they request for more money.”
Attributing the rescue of the victims to the resilience of the armed forces who continue to track and pursue them across their hideouts, the NSA expressed special appreciation to the armed forces.
Commending President Bola Tinubu for the support he had continued to give to security agencies to achieve these feats, Ribadu said:
“Daily, we are getting our brothers and sisters rescued from the hands of these evil people. But releasing them is not the end of the matter. We will go after them and they will face the consequences.”
In his remarks, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, commended the armed forces and the security forces, under the coordination of the National Security Adviser, for the untiring efforts in tackling security challenges in the country.
“We have been working day and night and I know the NSA does not sleep, all in a bid to ensure these security issues are resolved. I want to thank Nigerians for the trust they are showing and for providing information which is assisting these successes.
“They should continue to have that trust in us, give us support by providing information because information is needed to overcome these evil people.”
One of the rescued victims, Adesiyam Michael, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the security operatives.
Lamenting that his wife was shot in his presence by the kidnappers, he said: “These boys are young, with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years.
