A Nigerian security analyst has proposed that authorities deliberately pay ransoms to armed criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, as a tactic to track and apprehend them at the point of spending. The suggestion highlights ongoing frustration over the perceived impunity of kidnappers in Nigeria.
Dr. Sani Aliyu, a security and intelligence analyst, made the comments during an interview on Trust TV on Friday. He was discussing the persistent wave of insecurity, including widespread abductions for ransom, that has plagued Nigeria. His proposal comes amid international pressure, particularly from the United States, for Nigeria to more effectively address the crisis.
Dr. Aliyu argued that the strategic use of ransom payments could leverage international law enforcement cooperation. “I wouldn’t mind if the government paid ransom to bandits and then tracked and rounded them up at the spending end,” he stated. He emphasized using channels such as Interpol to trace the funds and coordinate arrests when the money is cashed or spent. “Such monies are spent without any arrest. They go scot-free. I think it’s very disturbing,” he added.
The analyst sharply criticized Nigerian authorities for failing to make arrests related to the financial transactions of kidnapping ransoms, despite the clear paper trail through banks and telecommunications systems. He described a systemic failure where the lucrative nature of ransom payments continues to fuel criminal activity
