The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has berated some Nigerians who engage in crowdfunding to pay ransom to secure the release of abducted persons.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, the force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said ransom payment remains a criminal act in Nigeria.
While frowning at the practice, Mr Adejobi said it kills the morale of the security agencies.
He added that the ransom payment will encourage the “dirty business” of kidnapping in Nigeria.
Mr Adejobi also disclosed that families of abducted victims do not carry the police along before paying ransoms due to the threat of kidnappers.
“Paying ransom is criminal in Nigeria, according to the provisions of our law. The problem we have in most cases is that families of victims don’t carry security operatives along.
“They get scared because kidnappers always work on their psyche and tell them that “don’t tell security agencies, don’t tell the police, if you do we are going to kill your relations” and they keep quiet.
“It got to a stage where somebody did crowdfunding on social media. This will not help us in any way. It is criminal. Crowdfunding is not allowed.
“How can you come on social media and be telling people to gather money to rescue victims? It kills our morale,” he said.
