Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has publicly confirmed that he refused to pay ransom when bandits kidnapped two of his brothers in 2025, insisting he would never hand money to criminals under any circumstances. Speaking during a media chat on Monday, October 5, 2026, as reported by The Punch, Lawal said he made his position clear to his family from the outset, although he did not prevent other relatives from acting independently.
Governor's Firm Stance on Ransom Payments
Lawal revealed that his brothers, Yusuf and Amba, were abducted by bandits in 2025. He stated that he told his family he would not contribute any money toward their release, a decision rooted in his belief that ransom payments fuel the cycle of kidnapping in Zamfara State. "You know, there are certain hard decisions you must take as a leader of the family…and I made it clear that this is my stand, but if anybody feels otherwise, he is free to go and pay and bring Yusuf and Amba back," he said.
The governor recounted that as negotiations stalled, the kidnappers eventually reduced their demands. By the end, they were asking for as little as a ₦150,000 recharge card, yet Lawal still refused to pay personally. "Eventually, they got tired, and the last thing they asked for then, I think, was a ₦150,000 recharge card, and even that I said I was not going to pay. Somebody from the family should do that because I committed that I will never put a dime to a criminal," he added.
Why Lawal Opposes Paying Kidnappers
Lawal explained that paying kidnappers only strengthens their capacity to carry out further attacks. He noted that previous attempts to negotiate with criminal groups in the state had yielded no meaningful results. His comments come against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in Zamfara, where bandits and other armed groups have continued to attack communities and abduct residents throughout 2025.
In January, suspected bandits ambushed security personnel along the Kwatarkwashi axis in Bungudu Local Government Area, killing five soldiers and a police inspector. The following month, 30 people were killed when bandits stormed Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area, with a separate attack in Tsafe's Ware community claiming 11 more lives. Violence persisted in subsequent months, with residents abducted in Maradun and seven students kidnapped in Kaura Namoda. In July, the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area was abducted after gunmen attacked his home, killing two policemen, a vigilante, and a civilian. In September, troops rescued 41 travellers who had been seized after their commercial bus broke down along the Tsafe-Funtua Road.
Lawal's Security Agenda and Broader Context
The governor said his administration was actively working to strengthen the state's security response, with particular attention to areas such as Tsafe that have suffered repeated attacks. He reiterated that his opposition to ransom payments remained a core part of his approach to tackling kidnapping in Zamfara.
In a related incident, armed bandits stormed Tsafe, the headquarters of Tsafe LGA in Zamfara State, around 1am, firing shots in the heart of the town. The attackers broke into at least two houses, abducting five people, including women, despite a 10pm curfew imposed after a similar attack the previous week. Tsafe LGA Chairman Garba Shehu Fanchas confirmed the abductions and called for more security personnel to be deployed to the area.
