Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, says paying ransom to bandits empowers them because they use the money to acquire sophisticated weapons.
“I would say this: my stance has always been no negotiation with the bandits. From day one, and I still maintain that stance,” he said.
“People are going into this because it’s more like a business now: kidnapping people, asking for ransom. You are empowering the bandits.
“Because for every dime that you pay, that is what they use to get all these sophisticated weapons they use. If they don’t get the money, how do you think they’ll get the weapons?”