Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of paying ransoms to kidnappers.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of paying ransoms to kidnappers.

The president has publicly spoken against the payment of ransom, warning governors against encouraging bandits and kidnappers through negotiation.

But speaking yesterday when he played host to members of Tiv professionals Group at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the ex-president said not just the government of Buhari but that of former President Goodluck Jonathan negotiated with kidnappers, though they deny doing so.

Neither Jonathan nor Buhari has responded to the claim by the former president.

Obasanjo, however, asked the government to develop a means to deal with kidnappers and bandits as against ransom payment.

The former President equally insisted that fighting insecurity to a standstill requires a carrot and stick approach.