Cautionary Tone from FCT Minister: Say No to Ransom Payments to Kidnappers, Urges Public Vigilance

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, cautioned the public against the practice of paying ransom to bandits and kidnappers, because on the contrary, it encourages the scourge.

This was as the federal government, has warned against crowdfunding in support of ransom payment to kidnappers by relatives of victims, saying there was an extant law against it.

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.

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But Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, declared yesterday that the security forces would be decisive in their renewed bid to contain kidnappers and armed bandits running amok in the nation’s capital.

Egbetokun made the declaration in Abuja during the launch of a special intervention unit of the Nigeria Police to tackle the menace of kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elements, especially in the FCT.

As part of efforts to stem the tide of insecurity, the Department of Development Control of FCT Administration said it had begun to compile a list of all shanties and informal settlements in Abuja for verification purposes.