Tinubu reads riot act on ransom payment, stirs security agencies

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reiterated his directive to security agencies and the Ministry of Defence that on no account should ransom be paid by the government to kidnappers, bandits or criminal elements for release of abducted persons.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, re-echoed the warning while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by the President in Abuja.

This came on the heels of the reported cases of kidnapped children in Kaduna State, whose abductors are demanding billions in Naira for their release.

Specifically, the country is grappling with a surge in kidnappings, with over 250 students captured on March 7, in Kaduna State, in the country’s North, worst affected by banditry.

The growing spate of abductions across the country, fuelled by an economic crisis, has left the Federal Government struggling to respond effectively.

However, Idris said: “In council today (yesterday), Mr President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that those our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely.

“And Mr President has also reiterated his zero tolerance for payment of ransom. That was also mentioned by Mr President at the council today (yesterday). So, the security agencies are working round the clock.”

Fielding a question on the worrisome resurgence of kidnapping in the country, the minister stated: “You’re also asking about the apparent surge in this kidnapping across the country. Now, it is true that some of these are happening, we have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno and then in Sokoto.

“Of course, the government is watching that very closely and not just watching, but also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.”

Meanwhile, before the commencement of the meeting, the President inaugurated 17 Commissioners of the National Population Commission.

Nine of them were re-appointed and sworn in alongside the 11 fresh ones.

They include Emmanuel Eke (Abia), Chidi Ezeoke (Anambra), Alex Ukam (Cross River), Blessyn Brume-Maguha (Delta), Jeremiah Nwankwegu (Ebonyi), Sa’adatu Garba (Kaduna), Aminu Tsanyawa (Kano), Yori Afolabi (Kogi), Mary Afan (Plateau) and Ogiri Henry (Rivers)

The rest are Isa Buratai (Borno), Tony Alyejina (Edo), Clifford Zirra (Adamawa), Ejike Ezeh (Enugu), Abubakar Damburam (Gombe), Uba Nnabue (Imo) and Sani Sale (Taraba).

Responding to Tinubu’s riot act on ransom payment, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged him to match his words with actions.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group emphasised that “Nigerians are not in doubt that the President is good at making compassionate speeches,” adding that he should ensure that his actions speak louder than his words.

HURIWA, which stated that there have been many “laudable promises made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at assuaging the popular angst of millions of hungry angry and impoverished citizens,” regretted that most of those noble ideas are still at the level of “mere semantics since they are yet to become realities.”