Asia El-Rufai, one of the wives of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has asked the administration not to pay ransom to bandits if they successfully kidnap her.
She said this Wednesday as a Guest of Honour at a peace and security training programme in Kaduna.
Mrs El-Rufai stated that she preferred to die in the hands of her abductors instead of her husband paying ransom to secure her release.
The governor’s wife said, “We must sacrifice to bring this to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.
Read Also: Buhari Reveals Post-2023 Plans
“For as long as you continue to pay the ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire. You are giving bandits and kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay ransom to bandits.
“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 and they 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.”