Why Nigeria is attractive to bandits, kidnappers — Gov Masari

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said Nigeria is economically attractive to kidnappers and bandtry in the Sahel region of Africa.

Masari explained that kidnappers find Nigeria attractive because the country is the richest country in the Sahel region of Africa.

He spoke during his appearance on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.

The governor stressed that banditry and kidnapping pays more in Nigeria than other countries of the Sahel region.

Masari said: “There are kidnappers, there are bandits around but look at the whole world and look at the position of Nigeria in the Sahelian region. Are we not the richest? So, the attraction even for kidnappers to come to Nigeria is there.

“If you kidnap somebody in Mali, where are you going to get thousands? If I kidnap you in Nigeria, I get millions. So, all of us will have to rise to the occasion.

“In my state, the bandits kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is something we must work hard to stop.”

Banditry and kidnapping have worsened in the North, with students and residents being their target.

Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna States have been the most affected by banditry, while other regions of Nigeria have also experienced kidnapping.