Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has revealed how he steadfastly refused to yield to terrorists’ demands for a N600 million ransom following the abduction of his twin brothers, choosing instead to rely on coordinated security intelligence to secure their release.
Speaking during an interactive media session on Sunday evening, October 5, at the Government House in Gusau, Governor Lawal recounted the high-stakes ordeal that tested his administration’s strict policy against negotiating with non-state actors.
According to official reports, the governor’s twin brothers were intercepted and abducted by armed bandits along the Kaduna-Kano highway at approximately 4:30 PM on a Tuesday afternoon while traveling for personal business.
Within 48 hours of the abduction, the terrorist kingpin leading the group established contact with the family, placing a hefty demand of N600 million for their safe return.
”They called demanding N600 million, expecting that as a sitting governor, I would instantly panic and deploy state funds or personal resources to satisfy their greed,” Governor Lawal stated during the briefing. “I told them point-blank that I would not pay a single kobo. Negotiating or paying ransom only fuels the financial engine of terrorism in our state and across the region.”
Rather than engaging in financial negotiations, the governor immediately alerted the heads of national security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, confirmed that tactical security units launched precise tracking and intelligence operations targeting the bandits’ hideouts along the Kaduna-Zamfara border corridor.
”His Excellency’s firm stance sent a shockwave through the camp of the abductors,” Idris told reporters during a follow-up press conference on Monday morning at the State Ministry of Information. “When the bandits realized no payout was forth coming and that security agencies were rapidly closing in on their location using advanced surveillance, they were forced to abandon their captives.”
The twins were safely recovered unharmed late Thursday night in a forested area near the border communities and were immediately transported to a military medical facility for physical evaluation before reuniting with their family.
Reiterating his government’s stance, Governor Lawal emphasized that his experience serves as a testament to the necessity of depriving criminal networks of financial incentives.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the military and local security outfits, such as the Askarawan Zamfara (Community Protection Guards), to completely eradicate banditry from the state.
