Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN has made a groundbreaking call for Nigerians who have paid ransom to kidnappers to take legal action against the Federal Government and demand full refunds of their payments.
Constitutional Duty to Protect Citizens
Speaking at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja on November 17, 2025, the senior advocate cited both the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Nigerian Constitution to support his position. Falana maintained that the government bears the fundamental responsibility for safeguarding the lives and security of its citizens.
The legal icon accused the Federal Government of applying double standards in handling kidnapping cases. "While the government takes swift and decisive action when high-profile individuals are abducted, it often looks the other way when ordinary Nigerians become victims," Falana alleged during his address.
Government Failure to Provide Security
Falana argued that the state's persistent failure to curb the escalating wave of kidnappings across the country amounts to a serious breach of its constitutional obligations. He emphasized that citizens should never be left to negotiate for their own safety with criminal elements.
According to the senior lawyer, pursuing ransom refunds through legal channels would serve dual purposes: asserting the rights of victims while simultaneously compelling the government to take its security responsibilities more seriously.
Kogi Council Imposes Dusk-to-Dawn Curfew
In a related development highlighting the security crisis, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area in Kogi State, Tosin Olokun, has imposed an immediate dusk-to-dawn curfew across the entire council area.
The decision, announced through a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Adeyemi Babarinde Sunday, comes as a response to renewed bandit attacks terrorizing communities in the area.
The curfew, which took effect immediately, operates from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily and applies to all communities within Yagba West Local Government Area.
Chairman Olokun explained that the security measure was based on recent intelligence reports and ongoing security operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements operating in border communities and forest areas.
"The safety of our people remains our top priority. This curfew is a proactive step to strengthen ongoing operations and prevent criminal infiltration across our communities," the chairman stated.
The administration emphasized that the restriction on movement during vulnerable hours will enable security agencies to conduct coordinated patrols, surveillance, and clampdown operations without obstruction.
Residents were urged to comply fully with the directive, with the chairman warning that anyone found violating the curfew or aiding criminal networks would face serious legal consequences.
