The federal government has warned against crowdfunding for ransom payment to kidnappers.
The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, gave the warning while fielding questions from reporters after the maiden 2024 Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided by President Bola Tinubu at State House, Abuja.
He said the government was aware of the plight of the families of the abducted persons, but advised them to cooperate with the security agencies and refrain from taking matters into their own hands.
“We are not unaware of the situation of the people who are being kidnapped and the agony of their families. We sympathize with them and we are doing everything possible to rescue them. But we also want to caution them against resorting to crowdfunding for ransom. This is illegal and it only emboldens the kidnappers to continue their nefarious activities,” he said.
Badaru said the government was committed to addressing the security challenges in the country, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where kidnappers and bandits have been terrorizing residents and commuters.
He said the government had deployed more troops and equipment to the FCT and its environs, and was working with the state and local governments to enhance intelligence gathering and community policing.
He also said the government had initiated a verification exercise of all shanties and informal settlements in Abuja, with a view to identifying and flushing out criminal elements hiding in them.
He urged the public to support the security agencies with useful information and report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest police station or security outpost.
The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who also spoke to reporters after the FEC meeting, reiterated the warning against ransom payment and crowdfunding, saying it was counterproductive and detrimental to the efforts of the security agencies.
He said the FCT administration had convened a town hall meeting on insecurity on Wednesday, where he met with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, security chiefs, and local government officials, to discuss the security situation in the territory and proffer solutions.
He said the meeting resolved to intensify collaboration and synergy among the security agencies, the FCT administration, and the residents, to tackle the menace of kidnappers and bandits.
The FCT Minister also said the meeting agreed to mobilize and support local vigilantes and hunters, who would work with the security agencies to patrol and secure the rural areas and villages in the FCT.
Wike condemned the recent abduction of six siblings from their father’s house in Bwari Council, Abuja, on December 26, 2023, and the subsequent killing of one of them, Nabeeha, by the kidnappers last Friday.
However, he said the meeting frowned at the reports that Nigerians had raised over N50 million through crowdfunding to pay the ransom for the release of the girls, saying it was a wrong and dangerous precedent.
“We have to stop this idea of going to the radio to say we are ready to raise money. When you do that, those criminals are happy. They are happy when the people that are concerned, you people, want to raise money.
“No. I know it is painful that your wife, your children, and your husband have been kidnapped. All we want is to stop it, not to encourage it.
“Journalists should also help us. We need the support of everybody. The kind of news you write also will encourage them.”
Wike said the FCT administration was determined to restore peace and security in the territory, and would not tolerate any act of lawlessness or criminality.
“It is no longer going to be business as usual. Everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, then we have no business in government.
“My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious. All those criminals, bandits, enough is enough! We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will not allow this to happen again,” he added.
