SECURITY experts and stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to criminalise ransom payments to terrorists, describing them as the biggest betrayal in the war against insurgency in Nigeria. The experts, who condemned the menace, especially when the government secretly paid terrorists a ransom, said that such a practice would only further encourage and deepen insecurity in the country. He said that the system comprises multiple layers, including state police, county police, rangers, and sheriffs, which work together in synergy to achieve their goals. MEANWHILE, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has condemned the recent killing of more than 178 people in Kwara State communities, describing the incident as “heartbreaking” and a grave provocation. He, however, cautioned South-West governors against politicising insecurity, urging them instead to adopt a united regional response.

Source: The Guardian February 11, 2026 06:18 UTC