Hajia Asia, wife of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai: ready to die at the hands of kidnappers

Richard Elesho

In a classical case of “like husband, like wife,” the first lady of Kaduna State, Hajia Asia el Rufai has disclosed her willingness to be sacrificed for the restoration of peace in the country, should she fall victim of kidnappers.

The Governor’s wife, whose husband had consistently opposed the culture of ransom payment to criminals, told her audience in Kaduna not to pay any ransom for her release, if she is ever abducted.

Mrs el-Rufai made the assertion in Kaduna on Wednesday while addressing participants of a peace and security training, organised for Kaduna women by Equal Access International (EAI).

Nigerian Tribune reports that, she said Nigerians must get back to their once-peaceful country and women have a great role to play in achieving that.

“We must sacrifice to bring this to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.

“For as long as you continue to pay a ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire. You are giving bandits, kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay a ransom. This is my personal opinion.

“I have said it before and I will say it again if I am kidnapped don’t pay any ransom. Rather pray for me that if it is death, I go in a good way and if I am going to be released that I am not violated.

“As long as we are giving them the money and they hurt people around, they will not change. Collectively as a country, we have to say no, we cannot continue to give them our hard-earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children.

“If we don’t put a stop to this, they will destroy us all. They will even kidnap the person that takes the ransom to them.

“You will see that some of them you even give the ransom and they still kill the person, so you have lost twice,” she said.

Speaking on communal clashes witnessed in parts of Kaduna State, Hajia Asia El-Rufai told the women drawn from Chikun, Kajuru and Jama’a local government areas to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians and work for the unity of the state.

The training according to the EAI’s Country Director, Mr. Maaji Peters is aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security, CIVSEC who will make contributions and decisions on issues that affects them and their communities.