Nigeria: I’d Rather Die Than Pay Ransom to Kidnappers, Says Kaduna Governor El-Rufai’s Wife

One of the wives of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, has declared that she would rather die than ransom be paid to kidnappers if she gets abducted.

Speaking on Wednesday while addressing participants at a peace and security training, organized for women by Equal Access International (EAI), Mrs. El-Rufai aligned herself with the position of the governor who has consistently maintained that no ransom should be paid to bandits.

Mrs. El-Rufai said the solution to ending kidnapping is to stop payment of ransom.

She said she was ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to the country.

She said Nigerians must get back their once peaceful country, noting that women have a great role to play in achieving that.

“We must sacrifice to bring this (kidnapping) to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.

“For as long as you continue to pay ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire. You are giving bandits, kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you.

“We should not pay ransom. This is my personal opinion. I have said it before and I will say it again, if I am kidnapped don’t pay any ransom, rather pray for me that if it is death, I go in a good way and if I am going to be released that I am not violated,”she said.

According to her, as long as the bandits are paid ransom, they will not change.

“Collectively as a country we have to say no, we can not continue to give them our hard earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children,” the governor’s wife said.

Mrs. El-Rufai said, “If we don’t put a stop to this, they will destroy us all. They will even kidnap the person that takes the ransom to them.

“You will see that some of them you even give the ransom and they still kill the person, so you have lost twice.”

Also commenting on the recent communal clashes in parts of Kaduna state, the governor’s wife urged women to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians and work for the unity of the state.

In his remarks, the Country Director of the EAI, Mr. Maaji Peters said the training was aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security (CIVSEC ) who will make contributions and decisions on issues that affects them and their communities.

By John Shiklam in Kaduna

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