The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said that payment of ransom is a criminal offence in Nigeria.
Adejobi stated this on Thursday while commenting on the recent abduction in Ekiti State during his appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
Two traditional rulers in Ekiti State were killed on Monday by kidnappers along Oke-Ako Road in Ikole Local Government Area of the state while another monarch narrowly escaped from the scene.
Also schoolchildren numbering six, three teachers and a bus driver were also kidnapped in Emure Ekiti, Ekiti State, while being conveyed to Eporo-Ekiti.
But speaking during his interview with the television station, Adejobi assured Nigerians that the victims would be rescued unhurt.
He said, “Paying ransom is criminal in Nigeria. But the problem we have in most cases is that families of abducted individuals don’t carry security operatives along. Kidnappers always work on their psyche. They tell them not to tell security operatives; ‘don’t tell the police; if you do we will kill your relations.’
“We have to understand the dimensions of kidnapping. Kidnappers will take kidnapping as a business. They will kidnap and negotiate and get money. We got to a stage where they kidnapped, collected money and killed the victim.”
, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said that payment of ransom is a criminal offence in Nigeria.){kind=link}