By John Shiklam
One of the wives of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mrs. Asia El-Rufai, has declared that she would rather die than accept that ransom be paid to kidnappers for her release if she ever gets abducted.
Mrs. El-Rufai, who addressed participants at a peace and security training yesterday that was organised for women by the Equal Access International (EAI), aligned herself with the position of her husband who has consistently maintained that no ransom should be paid to bandits.
She said that the solution to ending kidnapping is to stop payment of ransom, adding that she was ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to the country.
She argued women have a great role in ensuring that Nigerians got back their once peaceful country.
“We must sacrifice to bring this (kidnapping) to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.
“For as long as you continue to pay ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire. It is giving bandits and kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you.
“We should not pay ransom. This is my personal opinion. 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 (sic) and if I am going to be released that I am not violated.
“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,”, she said.
Mrs. El-Rufai went on to say that “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.”
The governor’s wife also urged women to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians on recent communal clashes in some parts of Kaduna State and work for the unity of the state.
In his remark, the Country Director of the EAI, Mr. Maaji Peters, said that the training was aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security (CIVSEC ) that would make contributions and decisions on issues affecting them and their communities.
