Tackling the menace of kidnapping, by Rahama Haruna Umar
Kidnapping has become one of the most pressing security challenges in Nigeria, spreading fear and uncertainty across the nation. Once treated as shocking news, abductions are now reported with troubling regularity, while many incidents never make the headlines. The crime has evolved into a lucrative industry, devastating families, destabilising communities, and undermining public trust in government. Yet this menace is not insurmountable. What Nigeria requires is a bold, coordinated, and sustained approach rooted in practical solutions.
The first step is the development of a comprehensive national counter-kidnapping strategy. Current responses are fragmented, with different agencies working in isolation, often duplicating efforts or leaving dangerous gaps. A unified national framework would ensure synergy among the military, police, intelligence services, and local authorities. It would also establish clear lines of responsibility, making it easier to track progress and hold institutions accountable.
Intelligence gathering must form the backbone of this strategy. Kidnappers operate in syndicates that rely on insider information and local networks. Nigeria must invest heavily in intelligence-led policing, enhancing the capacity of the Department of State Services and the police to infiltrate these groups. Building informant networks, deploying undercover officers, and using data-driven analysis can help security agencies preempt attacks rather than merely respond after they occur.
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The use of modern technology is equally vital. Drones for aerial surveillance, GPS tracking systems, and biometric databases can give security forces an advantage in tracing kidnappers’ movements. Financial tracking tools can help follow ransom payments, making it harder for criminal syndicates to operate undetected. Properly deployed, technology can shift Nigeria’s response from reactive to proactive.
At the grassroots level, community engagement is indispensable. Many kidnappings are facilitated by local collaborators familiar with the terrain. Strengthening community policing and empowering traditional rulers and local vigilance groups will encourage citizens to play active roles in security. When communities trust that their intelligence will be acted upon, they become reliable partners in crime prevention.
The Nigerian Police Force needs targeted reforms. Establishing specialised anti-kidnapping units in every state, staffed with well-trained personnel and equipped with modern communication tools, would ensure swift and professional responses. These units should be trained in hostage negotiation, rescue operations, and tactical intervention, ensuring that victims are rescued safely while criminals are apprehended.
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Justice delivery must also be strengthened. Too often, suspects are arrested only to reemerge due to weak investigations or slow court processes. Creating special kidnapping tribunals or fast-track courts would ensure that cases are prosecuted quickly and transparently. Harsh, certain, and consistent punishments would deter would-be offenders and demonstrate that the state takes this crime seriously.
A critical but often overlooked strategy is to target the financial lifelines of kidnappers. Ransom payments fuel the crime, and cutting off this funding will weaken syndicates. Nigeria’s financial intelligence agencies must monitor suspicious transactions, while banks and telecom companies should work with security agencies to block ransom channels, whether cash-based or digital.
Securing Nigeria’s porous borders is equally urgent. Kidnappers often smuggle weapons across borders or move victims between states and neighbouring countries. Joint border patrols equipped with scanners, drones, and satellite monitoring can significantly reduce these activities. Regional collaboration with countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon is necessary to prevent kidnappers from finding safe havens outside Nigeria’s borders.
In the long term, youth empowerment and education are essential to addressing the root causes of kidnapping. Many perpetrators are unemployed young people who see crime as their only option. Expanding vocational training, entrepreneurship opportunities, and rural development projects can provide alternatives to kidnapping and help reintegrate at-risk youth into society as productive citizens.
Victims and their families must not be abandoned after their ordeals. Establishing rehabilitation and counselling centres would help survivors cope with trauma and reintegrate into society. Supporting families financially and psychologically during and after abduction crises not only aids recovery but also strengthens resilience against further exploitation.
The media has a crucial role to play. While coverage is necessary, sensational reporting often fuels public fear and inadvertently amplifies kidnappers’ demands. Establishing media-security guidelines can help ensure responsible reporting that balances the public’s right to information with the need to protect ongoing rescue efforts.
The military, while not the primary agency for combating kidnapping, must be deployed strategically in hotspots where kidnappers operate from forest enclaves and along highways. Establishing special forest task forces that combine military personnel, police units, and local hunters can dislodge criminal camps. However, operations must be sustained rather than one-off raids, to ensure criminals do not return once the security presence withdraws.
State governments must take ownership alongside the federal government. Setting up state security trust funds to finance training, equipment, and intelligence initiatives can strengthen local responses. Since kidnappers often exploit jurisdictional boundaries, neighbouring states must also work together, sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations.
Finally, Nigeria must look outward for support. International partnerships can provide training, technical expertise, and intelligence. Countries such as Colombia, which successfully reduced its kidnapping crisis, can offer valuable lessons. Bilateral security agreements focusing on hostage negotiation, surveillance, and financial tracking would strengthen Nigeria’s hand in fighting this menace.
In conclusion, defeating kidnapping in Nigeria requires more than promises. It demands political will, consistent investment, and a commitment to results. By uniting intelligence, technology, community cooperation, judicial reforms, and international collaboration, Nigeria can dismantle kidnapping networks and restore public confidence. The time for action is now, and delay only strengthens the criminals. With the right strategy, Nigeria can turn the tide against kidnapping and protect the dignity and safety of its people.
Rahama Haruna Umar is a student of Mass Communication at Muhammadu Buhari University of Maiduguri (formerly the University of Maiduguri), Borno State.
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