Kidnapping has become the fastest growing business in the land and that explains why no day passes without a report of abduction. The security agencies seem to have been overwhelmed and that is why to many, the business is beginning to have a colouration of being legalised.
In recent times, kidnapping has taken an alarming proportion, as it has become an enterprise for not only the bandits in the North West and North Central, but also for criminals in the Southern part of the country. To cap it up, even in the North East terrorism is gradually given way for kidnapping for ransom.
Statistically, within the Last 7month of the year 2022, no day passes without a single mention in the national dailies of the crime, which seems to have come to stay with us.
We can count nothing less than 5 cases of abduction a week and in months,nothing less than 70 cases within the first quarter of the year; we can say that those involved in this crime have made hundreds of millions if not billions of naira from the act.
These perpetrators show no conscience as they demand outrageous amounts from the victims’ family members as ransom, most times killing them even after collecting the agreed ransom.
Among other criminal cases in Nigeria, kidnapping appears to be one of the most costly, yet most lucrative in nature, considering the fact that the victims would have to be fed while waiting for ransome. Most surprising is the fact that the business is thriving despite the high punitive measures in place to tackle the menace.
Since kidnapping is on the increase in NIgeria, there is a corresponding increase in the level of insecurity in the country. The government and their security agents ranging from the police, military personnel, and special anti-robbery squad (SARS) have not achieved considerable results. Most Security officials sometimes no longer intervene for fear of their lives and livelihood. Many security personnel have been killed by kidnappers who are more sophisticatedly equipped. Most often, the security agents meet kidnappers unprepared and considering the fact that the kind of guns these security officers possess are inferior, they stand the risk of losing their lives.
Yet it is within the jurisdiction of the government to make provision for the security of its citizenry which they are not attaining.
The sole purpose of every state is to protect its citizens, but it is no news that most Nigerians are now more than ever responsible for the protection of the state.
We can all recall on the 18th May 2022, when citizens travelling on the Abuja-Kaduna train were hijacked and taken away, some of them escaped, while some, about 68 passengers, were taken away as bait for ransom.
Actors are not left out as we heard that on 29th of July 2022, two popular Nollywood actors, Clemson Cornel and Cynthia Okereke were abducted while filming in Enugu; with their abductors demanding $100,000 in ransom but were able to raise N1.2M which aided their release.
Traditional heads are not exempted as we can remember recently, one Chief Mukaila Bello and three other indigenes were kidnapped with their abductors demanding for N50m ransom; though the traditional ruler was released, the amount paid for ransom was however not disclosed.
The threat of these perpetrators knows no bounds as they even threaten to kidnap the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai which symbolises the ridiculous level of insecurity in Nigeria.
To buttress the fact that these criminal minded people are more audacious, the other day, they attacked the presidential guards in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja, killing at least eight soldiers, including two officers, and wounding three others.
The business has continued to attract condemnation amongst citizens who have expressed great concerns, describing it as barbaric.
A cleric, Pastor Sam Ocholi is of the opinion that kidnapping as a business tool is wrong and abductors should be apprehended and jailed.
“Kidnapping as a business tool is wrong, because it is a crime, people doing it ought to be apprehended, jailed or even worse employ the full wrath of the law. People are doing it as a business because adequate punishment has not been served and our law enforcement agency hasn’t done enough to punish them, so I believe this is giving them more reasons to continue” he said.
Another speaker, who identified himself as Micah said he believes the reason kidnapping is seen as a lucrative business is because most youths don’t have means of survival,so they adopt the act to survive.
“Kidnapping is very bad because it is an act of holding someone against their wish. Today, especially in Nigeria, people are going into kidnapping because the business is very lucrative; if you kidnap 2 or 3 people, you have become a millionaire.
“People are using kidnapping as a business, because there are no work opportunities in the country. Most people are hungry so they have to look for means to survive, ” he said.
Public speaker and writer Miss Adaku. O . said, the government and system have failed the people, both the kidnappers and its victims.
“The government and system have failed the people (both the kidnappers and the victims). Unemployment and hardship are the two major reasons why kidnapping is thriving in Nigeria, we shouldnt only look at the kidnapping in the northern part of Nigeria, but also the south where it is a thriving business.
“If you watched the BBC documentary on banditary, you will know that the government pushed these terrorists into this evil act by making the environment harsh for them to rear their cows, just as one of the bandits said, and in order to vent their anger, they ventured into kidnapping and collecting of ransom.
“In the southern part of the country, the rising state of unemployment and hunger led youths to begin the kidnapping business. That is the only option they see out of their joblessness in order to survive the harsh economy. Little effort is done to address the reasons for the kidnapping, in terms of providing jobs for the people, or ensuring an enabling environment for the private sector to operate (the SMEs), since there are no/less job opportunities in government.
“The security agencies are doing their best to fight the people involved in this deed, but with little budget allocation, which is why their effort seems not to be yielding results. Since the issues of unemployment and hardship have not been addressed by the government, kidnapping has turned to a regular business in Nigeria. More people are now engaging in it because they find it profitable.
“When a person can be kidnapped and the kidnapper gets millions of naira just to release the person -the kind of money they can never get when they work or have their businesses. Tell me how they would stop, rather they will continue and more people joining them. This has led to the rising insecurity we have now in Nigeria and until something is done, NIgeria and until something is done, Nigeria would be known as a country where kidnapping thrives, in fact we would lose foreign investments because no foreigner would want to come to a place where he/she would be endangered or probably end up dead, because these kidnappers have taken it to another level, which is killing their victims after collecting the ransom”She said.
Another concerned Nigerian, David Gabriel, expressed his thoughts on the act, he said he hopes the government shows interest and curb the current level of insecurity.
According to him, “kidnapping in the country is highly illegal and in my opinion, it is because the country has not been structured properly to curb them; and the government is not doing their responsibilities too because of some selfish reasons.
“Kidnapping should be addressed appropriately. It has caused a lot of damage to people, families and the nation as a whole. The government should make the society conducive for citizens.
“Because of the mindset of low minded citizens, out of their personal or corporate peril, they kidnap people to get money to achieve what they want, all for a purpose; which has made everyone fearful and people no longer have the basic freedom anymore, freedom of speech or movement” he said.
