Senate Moves To Stop Ransom Payment To Kidnappers, Directs FEC, CBN To Issue Circular

By Ayodele Oni

The Senate has resolved to direct the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), to issue financial circulars encouraging cashless transactions to stifle ransom payments to kidnappers.

The resolution followed a Motion of Urgent National Importance in the Senate, on Thursday, by Senator Karimi Sunday Steve, representing Kogi West, calling on state governments to actively complement the Federal Government’s role in tackling Nigeria’s worsening security situation.

The motion, was triggered by a series of deadly attacks in Kogi West Senatorial District and Suleja, Niger State, targeting schools, communities, and highways.

Senator Karimi told the Senate that on Tuesday, June 10 2026, terrorists invaded a secondary school in Iluke-Bunnu, Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State, attempting to kidnap students writing their SSCE exams. During the attack, the Vice Principal, a teacher, and an indigene were killed.

The incident came just a day after another attack on private property in Odo-Ere, Yagba West LGA on June 8.

“In a related development, at about 11:30am on June 10, terrorists attacked a secondary school in Suleja, Niger State, and abducted students writing SSCE, worsening the out-of-school children crisis,” he said.

The lawmaker listed a wave of attacks in Kogi West over the past week as evidence that the district has become an “epicenter of terrorist attacks”.

He cited the abduction of two wives and three children of the traditional ruler of Odai Bunu; the abduction of a doctor, his wife and children in Iluke Bunu; the killing of two constituents in Ikoyi Ijumu; and the kidnapping of 30 people in Aiyegunle Bunu during heavy gunfire.

He also highlighted repeated kidnappings on the Lokoja-Obajana Highway, attacks in Oworo land, Ogbabon, Oyo, Jakura, Kupa, Kakanda, Kotonkarfe, and more than two attacks in Odo Eri, Yagba West within seven days.

 “All over Kogi West Senatorial District, hundreds of constituents have been abducted by these armed groups in forests.

“Worried that these persistent attacks remain a threat not just to education, but to agriculture as well as the peace and progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.

He warned that without concerted action, citizens may lose confidence in government’s ability to secure lives and property.

Senator Karimi argued that since security of lives and property is the primary purpose of government at all levels, state governments must give life to local government financial autonomy and take more proactive steps at the community level.

The Senate referred the motion to relevant committees for further legislative action, and urged the President, Inspector General of Police,  (IGP), and National Assembly to immediately consider a workable legal framework for sub-national/State Police in Nigeria.

It also mandated the Ministry of Interior and Immigration Service to step up border security and tighten border control to restrict movement of terrorists and arms, while urging stoppage of negotiations/peace accords with terrorists and bandits at sub-national level, noting that such deals are often reneged and used to fund more terrorism.