Pay No Ransom If I Am Kidnapped – El-Rufai’s Wife

Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, the wife of Kaduna State Governor, has stated that if she is kidnapped, no ransom should be paid to her kidnappers.

According to Daily Trust, the first lady said this while speaking to participants at a peace and security program organized by Equal Access International in Kaduna.

The governor’s wife, who is also a lecturer at Abuja’s Baze University, claimed she is willing to die at the hands of kidnappers if it means the country will be at peace.

Nigerians, she argued, must reclaim their once-peaceful country, and women have a key role to play in this.

“We must sacrifice to bring this to an end and I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to Nigeria.

“For as long as you continue to pay a 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 a 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.

“As long as we are giving them the money, they will hurt people around, they will not change. Collectively as a country, we have to say no. We cannot continue to give them our hard-earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children. 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.” she said.

She encouraged ladies from Chikun, Kajuru, and Jama’a local government areas to avoid divisive narratives generated by greedy politicians in response to communal conflicts seen in parts of the state.

The program, according to EAI’s Country Director, Maaji Peters, is aimed at securing Nigerian communities by forming Civilian Security (CIVSEC) groups that would make contributions and choices on matters that concern them and their communities.

El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna, has also stated that he will not pay a ransom to kidnappers, even if a member of his family is kidnapped.