Despite warnings from the Federal Government against crowd-funding for ransoms, the practice continues to be utilized by abductees and their families to secure the release of kidnapped victims. Families of abductees have expressed that they disregarded the government’s warning due to fears that the victims might be harmed or killed if the ransom was not paid. In Ekiti State, pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, who were abducted, were reported to have regained their freedom after a ransom of N15 million and other items were paid to the kidnappers.

The Proprietor of the school, Gabriel Adesanya, confirmed that a ransom was paid but did not specify the actual amount. The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, had previously warned against crowd-funding for ransom, especially on social media. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, and the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, also condemned the practice, stating that it undermined security and contributed to the abduction spree in the country.

However, families of abductees have justified the act of paying ransoms, emphasizing that they did so to secure the lives of their loved ones. One victim in Zamfara State, Mohammed Shehu, revealed that he raised funds through crowd-funding to secure his release after being asked to pay a ransom of N20 million, which was later reduced to N10 million. Similarly, a friend of a kidnapped victim in Asaba, Delta State, mentioned that he mobilized friends to contribute money for the negotiation with the kidnappers.

In Kwara State, the families of the slain Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, are in panic mode following the N40 million ransom demanded by the abductors of the monarch’s widow. The royal father was assassinated, and his wife and another lady were abducted. The abductors had initially demanded N100 million, which was later reduced to N40 million. Efforts are being made to negotiate the release of the abducted victims, and updates on the situation are being promised to the public.

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