Afrigather Abuja, Nigeria —
Nigeria will now not pay ransom to armed gangs which have plagued the nation with kidnapping and extortion, President Bola Tinubu mentioned in an opinion piece printed Monday.
He made the assertion as activists commemorated the tenth anniversary of the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from the city of Chibok. Acknowledging that “legit issues” over kidnappings persist, Tinubu mentioned Nigeria should handle the basis causes of poverty, inequality, and a scarcity of alternative if it hopes to eradicate the menace posed by prison gangs.
Within the Newsweek journal piece, titled “Ten Years Since Chibok – Nigeria Will No Longer Pay the Worth,” Tinubu mentioned ransom funds to gangs solely inspired gangs to commit extra crimes and mentioned, “the extortion racket have to be squeezed out of existence.”
The president mentioned as a substitute of ransom, perpetrators of the violence will obtain the safety companies’ counter actions.
He cited the latest rescue of 137 college college students kidnapped in Kaduna state. Their abductors had demanded $600,000 in ransom, however the president mentioned no ransom was paid.
Ndu Nwokolo, managing associate at Nextier, a public advisory agency with give attention to safety and financial points, agreed that ransom cost emboldens perpetrators, however mentioned Nigeria isn’t able to take such a stance.
“The Nigerian state is clearly very weak to do these issues it says it needs to do. In case you’re somebody, you’ve gotten your [relative] kidnapped and you already know that the state safety brokers cannot do something,” Nwokolo mentioned. “How come you have been capable of retrieve these numbers of youngsters with out capturing a gun, and we all know that these guys demanded ransom? Your complete factor exhibits that there isn’t any honesty, there isn’t any transparency.”
Tinubu mentioned the federal government’s response to the Chibok abduction in 2014 was sluggish.
However, the president mentioned, Nigeria should acknowledge the altering nature of the menace. He mentioned prison gangs behind more moderen kidnappings are primarily after money rewards, in contrast to Boko Haram, which sought to impose Islamist rule.
In 2022 Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, tried to criminalize ransom funds to kidnappers, however the determination was met with resistance from activists and the households of victims.
Safety analyst Senator Iroegbu mentioned lack of accountability from authorities is the principle concern.
“There won’t be ransoms within the first place if measures are on floor to forestall it,” Iroegbu mentioned. “Why is it straightforward for kidnappers to kidnap Nigerians and preserve them for lengthy? Ten years after Chibok women, why are the circumstances nonetheless rising? It is not attempting guilty victims who’re determined to do the whole lot they will to rescue their family members. For residents, that could be their final resort.”
Tinubu mentioned Nigeria should finally handle the triggers for insecurity, together with poverty, inequality and lack of alternative.
Within the article, Tinubu additionally talked about his financial reforms. The Nigerian president mentioned they have been vital to save lots of public funds and encourage international funding.
Tinubu scrapped gasoline subsidies for the general public and floated the naira simply days after assuming workplace final yr. The choices despatched costs hovering and have been extensively criticized, however haven’t been reversed.
Tinubu mentioned earlier governments had failed to spice up the financial system, and 63 p.c of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor.
Iroegbu mentioned blaming predecessors won’t remedy Tinubu’s issues.
“This mentality of attempting guilty previous administrations, considering you are higher whilst you’re not truly doing one thing totally different, must cease till there is a consequence that Nigerians can see and testify,” Iroegbu mentioned.
The Nigerian president ended his article by saying, “there shall be no extra ransoms paid to kidnappers nor in direction of insurance policies which have trapped our individuals economically.”
