Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has advised Nigerians who have paid ransom to kidnappers to take the Federal Government to court and demand a refund, insisting that the state has failed in its constitutional duty to protect them.
Speaking at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, he argued that the persistent rise in kidnapping across the country amounts to a breach of the government’s obligation to safeguard lives as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Falana faulted what he described as a “class-based response” to abductions, noting that authorities act swiftly when high-ranking individuals are kidnapped while ordinary citizens are left at the mercy of criminals.
He explained that seeking a refund through the courts would not only enforce victims’ rights but also compel the government to strengthen security measures.
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 estimated more than 2.2 million kidnapping incidents during the period, with victims paying an average of N2.7 million.
Security analysts have warned that kidnapping has evolved into a thriving criminal enterprise, underscoring the need for urgent and coordinated government action.
