Nigeria is attractive to bandits, kidnappers because we are rich country – Masari

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

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

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

He 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.”