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Governor Lawal: Kidnap Victims Not Related to Me, Decries ‘Attention-Seeking’ Bandits

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GUSAU, Nigeria — Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has dismissed claims by two kidnapped men who alleged in a viral video that they are his younger brothers, describing the assertion as a fabricated ploy by bandits seeking public sympathy and attention.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the governor said none of the victims is related to him and labelled the video as part of “a new tactic” by criminal gangs to pressure families and raise ransom money.

The viral clip, which surfaced earlier in the week, shows two visibly distressed men seated on the ground with hooded gunmen standing behind them.

In the footage, the victims are seen pleading for help and claiming blood ties with Governor Lawal.

The armed captors are heard threatening to kill the men unless the governor intervenes and facilitates a ransom payment.

Governor Lawal, however, refuted the connection.

“I have only one sibling, and she is a woman,” the governor clarified.

“None of the individuals in that video is related to me in any way.”

He added that the state government is taking concrete steps to secure the safe release of the victims and reunite them with their families, regardless of their identities.

“Upon watching the video clips critically, one can see how distressed the kidnap victims were. I believe this is a new format adopted by the bandits to boost their sagging morale and attract attention,” Lawal said.

The incident comes amid heightened insecurity in Zamfara, where abductions by armed groups have become increasingly frequent, particularly in rural areas.

Bandits in the region have resorted to increasingly desperate tactics, often targeting relatives of public officials or impersonating them in a bid to secure ransom payments.

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