Defence Minister Reiterates: No Ransom Paid for Hostages, Rescue Relies on Military Pressure

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retired), has firmly restated that the Federal Government does not pay ransom for the release of kidnapped victims. Instead, he emphasized that rescue operations rely on military pressure and intelligence.

Speaking in an interview, the minister dismissed assumptions about ransom payments, particularly in cases of abducted schoolchildren. “The federal government does not pay ransom. Even if others do, the federal government does not,” he stated.

He explained the government’s strategy, where sustained security operations force kidnappers to abandon their captives. “People only assume that ransom is paid… soldiers go into the forest to apply pressure on the bandits so they will flee and abandon the children, and then we recover them.”

General Musa strongly warned against the payment of any ransom, arguing it directly funds and encourages further criminal activity. He urged families and communities to report kidnappings immediately to security forces rather than negotiate with criminals.

The minister also cautioned the public against any form of collaboration with bandits, including selling them food or supplies, labeling such transactions as “blood money.” He emphasized the critical importance of citizen-provided intelligence in successful operations. The Defence Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace solely through military action and advised state governments against entering peace negotiations with armed groups.