Backs Bill to Establish State Police
- Safiu Kehinde
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has recalled his ordeal with his brothers’ abductors as he explained reason behind his refusal to pay the ransom demanded for their release.
Lawal claimed to have refused to pay the ransom while also daring the kidnappers to kill them as part of his commitment to his vow not to pay ransom to insurgents in the state.
The governor made this known while speaking at the Arise TV’S Townhall Discussion on State Policing held in Abuja on Thursday.
Recounting the incident which occurred in 2019, Lawal held that paying ransoms to kidnappers will empower them to buy more weapons and carry out more kidnappings which he tried to avoid in Zamfara.
“What I want you to understand is that no negotiation and I don’t pay ransom to criminals because there is no reason why you give them money and empower them to go and buy more weapons and kill our people.
“My stand is very clear and I’m still on that. I will not negotiate and will not pay ransom to any criminal no matter what happened.
“Let me tell you, this is a very serious matter, my own brothers were kidnapped in 2019.
“The kidnappers were demanding N300 million. And I said ‘look, I’m not going to pay a dime. If you like, go and kill them’.
“By the time we continue to pay ransom to these people, we are encouraging them to be kidnapping people more and more.
“But when they realised it is no longer the case, I’m sure they think twice and stop kidnapping people. We need to be able to resist this kind of temptation no matter what.
“I refused to pay that ransom. In the end, they released these guys after few months in captivity. There was no name I was not called, but I said look, I will not pay ransom.” He said.
Speaking on the ongoing legislative processing of the state police establishment bill, Lawal described the move as a welcome development as he stressed the need for state governments to have control over the security of their respective states.
He said that the police are generally underfunded which affects their performance.
“If we are to be fair on police, you will all agree with me that the police are adequately funded, and they are not properly trained, and the general welfare of the police is not really what it should be.
“I find it very difficult as a responsible leader to see how committed they will be in terms of protecting lives.
“I’m happy and fully in support of this process where we will now have ownership.” He said.
Speaking on concerns over possible abuse of state police by governors, Lawal admitted to the likelihood of the development having its disadvantages.
He however maintained that it is the primary duty of a governor to protect lives and properties, adding that the creation of state police will further empower the governor to live up to the responsibility.
“Having realised all these issues raised at different fora, I think this is the right decision because from all the speakers that I’ve heard, most of the issues being raised here are about abuse.
“But then, when you summarise everything, you look at the advantages and disadvantages.
“Let me give you an example from Zamfara state in terms of funding, within the last three years, I have bought over 500 vehicles for the security.
“That is just one side. Three months ago, the Minister of Defence was in Zamfara to commission 35 APCs and MRAPs that will be used by the security forces to fight criminality.
“About these abuses, we as leaders are elected to do certain things- to provide education, healthcare, infrastructure, and so many other things.
“So, why is it now difficult for people to understand that my primary responsibility to protect lives and properties, I’m now having control? How do you hold me accountable?
“This is the reason why I insisted that we need to be in charge while we are in control.” He said.
The Zamfara governor charged Nigerians to hold their governors accountable if they deviate from the essence of the state police creation
“If we are in control, Nigerians have every reason to question us as far as security is concerned because securing is fundamental.
“No matter what kind of development we want to bring into society, if you are not secured, it is close to impossible to make any meaning change.” He added.