The Federal Government has reiterated its stance on not paying ransom for kidnapped victims, a position reaffirmed by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa.

Speaking on the issue, Gen. Musa warned that paying ransom only encourages kidnappers and fuels insecurity across the country. He urged Nigerians not to engage in crowdfunding or any public payment of ransom for abducted individuals, noting that existing laws prohibit such actions.

The Defence Minister emphasized that the government is committed to rescuing victims through security and intelligence operations rather than negotiating with criminals. “Our approach is to confront kidnappers and terrorists directly, not to enrich them,” he said.

This position aligns with recent statements from other government officials, including presidential aides, who have consistently stressed that ransom payments only exacerbate the threat posed by kidnappers.

Authorities continue to encourage citizens to report kidnappings to security agencies and cooperate with ongoing rescue operations.