EXCLUSIVE: ‘we Secretly Pay Ransoms To Bandits, But It’s Not Good For Public To Know,’ Says Kwara Council Chairman

 

The victims, identified as Abike, Semiu, Sofiat and Ramadan, were reportedly kidnapped by suspected bandits on October 25, 2026, in Abangbe Village, near Oke-Oyi, in Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The Executive Chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mallam Garba Olayinka Lukman Agbelere, has disclosed that local governments sometimes contribute money towards ransom payments to secure the release of kidnapped victims but keep such interventions secret because it is “not good” for the public to know.

Agbelere, also known as Lukman Olayinka Garba, made the disclosure during a telephone conversation with SaharaReporters on Friday morning while responding to allegations that he advised the family of four persons abducted in Abangbe Village to raise a ₦50 million ransom demanded by their captors.

The victims, identified as Abike, Semiu, Sofiat and Ramadan, were reportedly kidnapped by suspected bandits on October 25, 2026, in Abangbe Village, near Oke-Oyi, in Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The family had told SaharaReporters that it sent a representative to the local government secretariat to seek government intervention and financial assistance, but was allegedly advised to find a way to pay the ransom because the government could not defeat bandits at the moment.

However, Agbelere denied discussing the ransom with the family during his visit to the community, insisting that the residents only appealed for improved security.

He said he was not around when the attack occurred but sent a representative to commiserate with the victims’ relatives before later visiting the community alongside Commissioner Ali Jimoh.

“I was even wondering. The moment this matter (bandit attack) happened, I was not even around. I had to send someone to go there to condole with them first. Then secondly, I called the ward chairman (of our party), the councillor, to ask them to go there, that I would visit them any moment from now,” he said.

“The moment I came back, I called Honourable Ali, the commissioner who came from their place. I was aware of the incident. We went there together to console with them.”

The chairman said he advised residents to take steps to protect themselves against attacks, arguing that the government could not provide security everywhere at the same time.

“When I reached them, I was only advising them that everybody needs to be vigilant. I told them, like in my own community where I come from, we contribute money to buy guns to protect our people from these bandit attacks.

“I told them that the government cannot do everything. You cannot leave everything in the hands of the government because we cannot be everywhere at a time,” he added.

He maintained that the abducted victims’ relatives did not mention the ransom demand during his visit and that he did not know the amount demanded by the kidnappers.

The council chairman, however, acknowledged that he intended to send the ward chairman to the affected family to provide financial assistance.

He then made the disclosure that local governments sometimes contribute towards ransom payments, although such interventions are not publicly announced.

“We can’t pay all the ransom; we can only contribute. This is what I have always done for people who have the same issues: to contribute towards helping them pay the ransom from the local government,” he said.

“You know it is not good for us to let people know we are paying these ransoms as government. But we do it silently just to help them. But we can’t mention the amount we paid to them.”

He added that he was surprised by the family’s account of its encounter with the local government, insisting that ransom was never discussed with him during his visit.

The chairman’s disclosure raises questions about the extent to which public authorities in Kwara State and other parts of Nigeria provide financial assistance towards ransom payments, as well as the decision to keep such interventions away from public scrutiny.

Also, paying ransom is a criminal offence in Nigeria under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (which repealed and replaced earlier terrorism and amendment bills).

The legislation explicitly criminalises transferring funds, making payments, or colluding with kidnappers or terrorists to pay a ransom.

On April 27, the Senate passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, introducing a key amendment to Section 14, which states: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently signed the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, into law on May 12, 2022.

The legislation repealed and replaced the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, as well as its 2013 amendments. As part of the comprehensive review of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework, the provision imposing a minimum prison term of 15 years for the payment of ransom, which had been approved by the Senate during deliberations on the bill in April 2022, was formally incorporated into Nigerian law.

It also comes amid growing insecurity in parts of Kwara State, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks, abductions and the increasing financial burden placed on families forced to negotiate with armed groups.

As of the time of filing this report, the families of the four victims had appealed to the government and security agencies to urgently intervene and secure their safe release.

SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS