The concern of the Federal Government about the danger of crowdfunding to pay ransom to kidnappers is well founded because such practice can make kidnapping an enduring criminality. But the government must take responsibility for ransom payment as it has failed to secure Nigerians and guarantee their welfare as enjoined by the 1999 Constitution.
As the scourge of the abduction epidemic hits Nigeria hard, the Federal Government is calling on Nigerians to stop raising funds for ransom payments. According to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, public donations for ransom to secure the release of abducted persons are exacerbating the problem and also undermining the government’s position to starve kidnappers of the profits derivable from transactional abduction. He warned that ransom payment is counterproductive and also against the law. Consequently, he is advising Nigerians to disregard appeals for such donations in the interest of the country.
In truth, kidnapping is a nagging security challenge that has put the entire country in a state of fear. From a few isolated cases in the past, to the now trending mass abduction; kidnapping has become a monumental danger in the country. To this end, the concerns expressed by Gen. Badaru seem germane. However, the real question is whether ransom payment is significantly responsible for the unabating abduction countrywide. Gen. Badaru believes that Nigerians are enabling criminals by complying with their monetary demands.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has shared similar views, blaming Nigerians of giving helping hands to kidnappers in various ways, thus enabling the escalation of the crime. Whilst the assertions are significant in the quest to stem kidnapping, the government seems to conveniently overlook that kidnapping lingers mainly because of the government’s failure to decisively tackle it. The upward surge of abduction is due to a lack of political will to match the criminals with superior force. Kidnappers are gaining confidence to continually launch attacks only because they are confronted with weak or zero resistance from security operatives.
Sadly, abductees are completely at the mercy of their captors as there seems to be little interference from the government. Transactional solutions have proven to be the succour as most ‘survivors’ regained freedom only after money has exchanged hands. For instance, nearly all the surviving victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack in 2022 (some of whom spent over six months in captivity) were freed after their families met the ransom demand of their captors. Therefore, instead of asking the people to jettison financial solutions, the military should beef up its anti-kidnapping operations.
Other than vituperative condemnations, the government’s efforts have fallen below practical steps to quench this raging fire. Ironically, the daredevil men have repeatedly demonstrated that they are unperturbed by ‘strong’ warnings as they have even taken the battle to the nation’s capital where, a few weeks ago, six sisters were abducted from their house in Bwari Council, Abuja, alongside their father. Although their father was later released to go and raise the demanded ransom, the kidnappers killed one of his daughters when he initially failed to meet the demand. The hapless father had to resort to public appeal to raise the ransom and secure the release of the remaining five daughters. Even though this incident went viral, there is nothing in the public domain to suggest that the government made any move to free the girls. In the absence of any political or military solution, Nigerians do not have an array of options than to dance to the tune of the murderous abductors.
Is it known to the government of Nigeria that the most potent element driving the rising abduction is the nonexistence of a greater counterforce? Every Nigerian has become a potential victim as there is no safety net in the entirety of the country! Recently, residents of Gonin-Gora in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were subjected to a door-to-door abduction raid by bandits for several hours without any security operatives intervening.
Similarly, hundreds of students are being abducted from schools under the government’s watch. The latest warning that schools in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are at risk of attacks by bandits and insurgents is clear proof that the government is not on top of the situation. Nigerians were made to believe that the mandatory SIM-BVN and NIN-SIM synchronisations were initiated to give them digital identity and tackle security matters. Curiously, there has been no report of any kidnap attempt that was intercepted by security agents using the said synchronised data.
Yet, kidnappers communicate with relations of victims with mobile phones and receive ransom either in cash or via the banking system. This means that their movements should be traceable by tapping their phone lines. Also, the identities of the beneficiaries of ransom payments can be unraveled if such banking transactions are closely monitored. Why then is the government failing to deploy technology in tracking these criminals? Contrary to the postulation of former President Muhammadu Buhari that “there isn’t much anybody can do to help the country”, Nigeria’s problems, although complex and multifaceted, are surmountable. However, the current administration needs to do more to fight insecurity.
In his action plan for a better Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised “to focus our efforts on taking greater advantage of our aerial superiority to both deter as well as swiftly respond to attacks by kidnappers.” He further pledged to protect Nigerians from danger and the fear of danger. The President has yet to deliver on these promises. Additionally, the various intelligence units of the security apparatus, despite their huge budgetary allocations and weaponry at their disposal, appear overwhelmed by the ravaging security crisis.
To save this country from an imminent disaster, the President should urgently assemble the country’s security architecture in proactively combating crimes. Rather than engage in panic alerts by publicly sharing intelligence on possible attacks, the government should foil such plans. It should also boost the morale of the security officers with incentives and improved emoluments so they discharge their duties more zealously. Furthermore, the security agencies should synergise and take the battle to the criminals. They should also liaise with financial institutions, telecommunication regulators/providers, and other stakeholders in mapping anti-abduction strategies. Importantly, the full wrath of the armed forces and the law should be brought upon the kidnappers and their cronies.
Public office holders should refrain from exhibiting luxurious lifestyles that are clearly beyond their legitimate earnings in the public domain. These flamboyant displays (mostly funded by proceeds of corruption) are capable of misleading some Nigerians into crime. Similarly, people should desist from idolising persons with unexplained wealth – the country’s culture of honest living should be enthroned. Furthermore, communities should devise a Know-Your-Neighbour scheme to foster familiarisation among residents and also report persons with suspicious character to the relevant law enforcement agency which in turn should treat such information with utmost confidentiality. Whilst a holistic approach is required in addressing the abduction epidemic, it remains the primary responsibility of the government to make Nigeria safe for all.
