Falana Rejects Ransom Payments, Urges Government to Deploy Technology Against Kidnapping

By Samuel Solomon

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to adopt advanced technological solutions in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, insisting that the payment of ransom only worsens insecurity.

Speaking at a public event aired by TVC News on Thursday, Falana questioned the growing practice of paying kidnappers to secure the release of victims, describing it as unacceptable and counterproductive.

According to him, ransom payments provide financial incentives for criminal groups, encouraging them to continue their operations.
“How can criminals be asking you to pay ransom before you can secure the release of your loved ones?” he asked, adding that “the more you pay, the more you promote the crime.”

Falana argued that modern technology offers effective alternatives to ransom payments, noting that mobile applications and digital tracking tools can help security agencies trace the locations of criminals.

To demonstrate the capabilities of technology, he recounted how he was once able to determine the exact location of a member of his staff through a mobile device despite receiving misleading information about the person’s whereabouts.

The senior lawyer also referenced the 2020 rescue of an American citizen abducted in Nigeria, claiming that advanced surveillance technology enabled foreign security operatives to locate the victim and successfully carry out a rescue mission.

He urged the Nigerian government to strengthen international security cooperation and seek technical training from foreign partners, particularly in hostage rescue operations and counterinsurgency efforts.

Falana maintained that Nigeria must move away from reliance on ransom payments and instead invest in modern intelligence-gathering and rescue capabilities to tackle kidnapping and insecurity more effectively.

“We can’t continue paying billions in ransom and then celebrate the release of victims. The focus should be on preventing and defeating the criminals,” he said.