Senate Spokesperson Insists No Ransom Was Paid in Kebbi and Niger Kidnapping Cases

The debate surrounding recent mass abductions in Kebbi and Niger states took a new turn after Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu reiterated that the Federal Government did not pay ransom to secure the release of the kidnapped victims. His statement comes amid public skepticism, conflicting narratives, and renewed scrutiny of security lapses that continue to enable such attacks across the country.

Adaramodu made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he addressed growing concerns over the nature of recent rescue operations. Despite the government’s claims of successful interventions, many Nigerians have questioned the absence of visible evidence—such as images of firefights, apprehended suspects, or recovered weapons—that would typically accompany such operations. Critics argue that this lack of transparency fuels suspicion that ransom payments are still being used behind the scenes, even though government officials repeatedly deny it.

The Senate spokesperson, however, maintains that the Federal Government has held firmly to its policy of not funding criminal networks through ransom payments. According to him, the public should not expect security agencies to disclose every detail of their operations, especially when doing so might compromise future missions or expose tactical weaknesses.

“From our side at the National Assembly, we believe the Federal Government did not pay any ransom to anybody,” Adaramodu said. He further explained that engagement with kidnappers can take different forms. “If there is any contact with the bandits, there are several types, negative or positive. It can be through force or persuasion.”

He cautioned Nigerians against assuming that the absence of dramatic combat footage indicates a lack of military action. “If you have not seen the corpses of abductors or them being handcuffed from the forest, that does not mean there was no serious exchange of battle,” he stated. According to him, kidnappers often flee upon detecting the approach of superior firepower, abandoning their captives in the process to avoid casualties.

This explanation, however, has not silenced critics. Many citizens argue that the military’s failure to apprehend any suspects, despite claims of overwhelming force, raises alarming questions about intelligence gathering and operational efficiency. Commentators on social media platforms and public forums have pointed out that bandits appear to possess better information networks than the security agencies tasked with tracking them.

The recent abduction of students from a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi has also sparked outrage, especially after revelations that soldiers assigned to protect the school reportedly abandoned their posts shortly before the attack. Adaramodu confirmed that the Senate has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the incident, adding that initial reports from the state government and security agencies suggested the absence of the assigned military personnel created an opening that the attackers exploited.

“We were made to understand, especially from the government of the state, that the soldiers guarding that place left, and minutes later, those people struck and kidnapped our children,” he said.

The situation has led to a flurry of reactions from Nigerians, many of whom express frustration at what they perceive as repeated government failures. Some believe ransom payments remain the only explanation for the speed and ease of recent releases. Others argue that the government’s denial is part of a broader attempt to avoid encouraging further kidnappings.

Human rights organisations have also criticized the government’s opaque approach, asserting that transparency is essential for restoring public trust. Without clear evidence of military engagements or details of negotiation strategies, many Nigerians feel they are being kept in the dark.

For now, the Senate spokesperson insists that “belief” in the government’s stance should be enough until factual evidence emerges. But as one citizen pointed out in frustration, “belief is not fact.” And until facts become clearer, public skepticism is unlikely to fade.