"Don't pay ransom, but when you don't pay ransom, make sure that the security agencies are ready to deal with any case of kidnapping."
This is the position of former Director of the State Security Service, Dennis Amachree.
Amachree made this known while reacting to a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.
Mr. Shehu had said terrorism will continue as long as Nigerians were willing to pay ransom, since the ransoms are a source of funds for the terrorists.
The former Director of the State Security Service said kidnappers become comfortable carrying out crimes when security agencies fail to go after them.
He lambasted the police force for not having a special police unit such as the US SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team) to deal with special crimes.
According to him, some rescue missions fail because "we send the regular police and the regular police are not trained to do that."
In a reaction to Garba Shehu, Mr Amachree said he was totally against the payment of ransom to kidnappers.
He however insisted that "it's not just don't pay ransom. If you don't pay ransom, then make sure you go after the terrorists."
