Stop funding banditry by refusing to pay ransom – Ribadu tells victims’ families

The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has cautioned families of kidnapped victims against paying ransom to abductors, emphasizing that such actions only encourage criminal activities.

Ribadu issued the warning on Tuesday while receiving a group of recently rescued victims at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja.

According to him, the rescue operations were carried out solely through the efforts of military and security forces, without the payment of any ransom.

He said, “I want to once again use the opportunity to thank our armed forces, thank our security forces, all the services. And indeed, the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, who is working daily, and we are improving.

“Daily, we are doing what we are asked to do. Daily, we are serving our country. Daily, we are restoring order, security, and stability. Daily, we are getting freedom back to our own people. We will continue to do so. We will not relent.

“We will not stop. I’m grateful today we are joined with the Minister of Defense, who has been exceptional. He has given massively good leadership to the armed forces.

“We are seeing the result. The collective collaboration, all of us, is really the result that we are seeing daily. We will continue.

“We will go after these people. Those bad people who are responsible for these horrible, horrible criminal activities. Releasing them is not the end of the story.

“We will make sure that justice is done. Anybody who is involved will never see peace with those who have decided to work with them (criminals). We are going to continue.

“But I want to also use the opportunity to talk to our people. Please, stop giving money to these people. It’s one of the worst things that is happening.

“It’s the most difficult thing we are facing. Many of these people, as you see them, their families have given money to these people. But it did not lead to their own release. No. It is we, the security forces, that have got them out.

“It’s not the money that they are giving. These people, the more you give, the more you are compounding the problems for us. We have never given anybody a dime. We don’t. And we don’t want people to do so. Please, stop it.

“Inadvertently, we may be helping this thing. And we are saying enough is enough. We will not be able to stop this thing quickly if people continue to give them money. I want to make a very strong appeal to all.

“It’s understandable, when someone of yours is in captivity, you will do whatever it takes for you to get him back. But this is counterproductive. It’s actually encouraging for it to continue.

“The whole essence is to get money, and if you continue to give them, you are actually saying go and do more and more. We are appealing to our people, to the country, to everybody, that please, let’s stop giving this money. Give us a chance for us to do the work. We will get it done”

Also speaking, the Minister of Defence said the Tinubu administration would see the end of the criminals and insecurity.

He said, “By special grace of God, the coordination of the National Security Adviser and the services, I’m sure we will see end to insecurity in this country. Once again, we thank also Nigerians for building the trust they have in us.

“And the fact that in recent times we have seen the trust, the information they give now to us to face these challenges. So, I continue to urge the citizens to continue to give us vital information that will lead to operations like this so that we’ll continue to fight the bad people to the end. “