KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA: A THREAT TO SECURITY AND LIVES
Lagos, Nigeria – As the kidnapping of citizens of various social statuses continues to spread across Nigeria, security agencies are finding themselves grappling with an escalating threat that seems to belittle their achievements.
No one is safe from the pervasive menace of kidnapping, which has become one of the most pressing security concerns in Nigeria. From schoolchildren to VIPs, the crime touches every corner of the country, leaving victims and their families in a state of constant fear and anxiety.
According to a report by the Civil Society Joint Action Group, between 2019 and 2023, at least 17,469 Nigerians were abducted, with 2,140 reported kidnapped across 24 states between January and July 2024 alone. The latest reported case is the abduction of 20 medical students in Otukpo, Benue State, who are yet to be released.
Despite efforts from security agencies, the kidnappers seem to be outsmarting them, with some calling the crime a “business” and using diversions to evade capture. Analysts say the government has not shown sufficient political will to stem the tide of kidnapping, and that some security agents are complicit in the crime.
“We need to address the root causes of kidnapping, which include poverty and unemployment, and also show political will to combat the crime,” said Kabir Adamu, CEO of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited. “The government must also ensure that security agencies are held accountable for their actions and inactions.”
Some experts believe that increased security patrols by the police would help reduce the activities of kidnappers, while others argue that the government should use telecommunications and biodata of citizens to combat the menace.
As the kidnapping epidemic continues to spread, Nigerians are left to wonder when the government will take decisive action to stop the crime. In the meantime, many are left to live in fear, with no end in sight to the abduction of innocent citizens.
Recommendations:
- The government must show sufficient political will to combat kidnapping, and ensure that security agencies are held accountable for their actions and inactions.
- Security agencies must be tactical in their approaches to combat kidnapping, using strategies such as increased patrols and use of telecommunications and biodata of citizens to track kidnappers.
- The government should launch a special operation to clear forests and bushes that serve as hideouts for criminal activities across Nigeria.
- The government should identify and expose compromised security agents who collaborate with kidnappers, and make examples of them to deter others.
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Source: Punch Newspapers, August 23, 2024
