Zamfara Governor Reveals Why He Refused to Pay N300m Ransom, Renews State Police Call

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has renewed calls for comprehensive security sector reforms, arguing that Nigeria’s centralized policing system has left states carrying the financial burden of security without the constitutional authority to direct operations.

Speaking at the ARISE News and THISDAY Townhall Conference on State Police and National Security in Abuja, the governor recounted a deeply personal experience that, according to him, shaped his unwavering opposition to the payment of ransom to kidnappers and armed bandits.

Lawal disclosed that in 2019, before becoming governor, several of his siblings were abducted by bandits who demanded N300 million for their release. Despite the enormous emotional pressure on his family, he said he refused to negotiate or pay the ransom.

According to the governor, he informed the abductors that he would not provide any money, insisting they could do as they wished. After approximately three months in captivity, his brothers were eventually released without any ransom being paid.

Lawal maintained that paying ransom only fuels Nigeria’s growing insecurity by providing criminal gangs with the financial resources needed to expand their operations.

He argued that ransom proceeds enable armed groups to acquire sophisticated weapons, recruit additional fighters, establish logistical networks, and sustain criminal activities across state boundaries.

The governor stressed that while families often face heartbreaking decisions during kidnapping incidents, government institutions must avoid policies that incentivize abductions for financial gain.

“Every ransom paid strengthens the criminal economy and encourages more kidnappings,” he said, emphasizing that lasting security requires dismantling the financial incentives driving organized crime.

A major focus of Lawal’s presentation was what he described as the constitutional contradiction facing state governments.

Although governors are officially recognised as the Chief Security Officers of their respective states, they noted that they have no direct command over the Nigeria Police Force or military formations operating within their jurisdictions.

According to him, state governments regularly provide operational support to federal security agencies while lacking the authority to issue tactical directives during emergencies.

Lawal revealed that Zamfara currently funds more than 30 percent of the logistics, fuel, operational allowances, and other support required by federal security personnel deployed across the state.

He added that his administration has also invested heavily in strengthening security operations through the procurement of modern equipment.

Among the assets acquired by the state are:

More than 500 operational vehicles for security agencies.
35 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
Tactical surveillance and reconnaissance drones designed to improve intelligence gathering and monitor criminal hideouts in remote forest areas.

The governor said these investments demonstrate that states are already financing significant aspects of national security despite having limited constitutional authority over security operations.

Lawal used the forum to throw his support behind ongoing constitutional efforts to establish state police, arguing that decentralized policing would improve intelligence gathering and operational efficiency.

He said officers recruited from local communities possess a better understanding of local languages, terrain, culture and criminal networks than personnel deployed from distant parts of the country.

Supporters of state policing have long argued that local knowledge could significantly improve responses to banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence, particularly in states facing persistent security challenges.

The proposal for state police has continued to generate debate, with critics warning that governors could potentially misuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents or dissenting voices.

Responding to those concerns, Lawal said safeguards can be built into the constitutional framework to prevent abuse.

He pointed to the conduct of his administration over the past three years, stating that neither the state’s security structures nor the Community Protection Guards have been deployed against political opponents.

The governor advocated for strong oversight mechanisms, independent accountability structures and constitutional checks to ensure that any future state police system remains professional, impartial and subject to the rule of law.

The discussion comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and organized criminal violence across several regions.

The National Assembly is currently considering constitutional amendments aimed at restructuring policing in Nigeria, with supporters insisting that decentralization has become increasingly necessary to address evolving security threats.

As the debate continues, Lawal’s remarks add to growing calls from governors and security experts for reforms that balance local accountability with national oversight while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat organized crime.

Zamfara Governor Reveals Why He Refused to Pay N300m Ransom, Renews State Police Call

Bychisom adaeze

By chisom adaeze

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