DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY ON ESCALATING KIDNAPPING CRISIS NOW!
The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) is sounding the alarm on the worsening kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, and urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to stem the tide of this national security threat. The Centre is convinced that without decisive action, the situation will degenerate into a crisis proportion, further endangering innocent lives and undermining national security.
The kidnapping epidemic has evolved from sporadic criminal activity into a full-blown lucrative industry, withcriminal-minded individuals, bandit groups and terrorist groups adopting it as a primary source of revenue. This alarming trend has not only deepened insecurity but also paved the way for other forms of violent crimes, severely destabilizing the nation.
Since the beginning of the year, Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic escalation in mass abductions, with the North West currently becoming the epicenter of the crisis. Just recently, the nation was jolted by the reported killing of the Emir of Gobir in Sokoto emirate who was earlier abducted on his way home by bandits. Few days before his eventual death in the hands of the abductors, the Emir was seen in a video pleading for his life while in captivity. It was quite saddening that despite the viral video that trended on social media, nothing was done to rescue him from his kidnappers until he was savagely murdered. It was only when the news of his death broke that government officials began to talk tough and issue directives. Even more saddening is the report that days after the death of the Emir in the hands of his merciless abductors, the bandits regrouped, stormed his community and abducted not less than 150 people! Those folks are still in the hands of the bandits.
The story of the late Emir of Gobir and his community, the 20 medical students who were abducted on their way to Enugu (but later freed) as well as that of Dr GaniatPopoola, a medical doctor who has spent about eight months in the abductors’ den (doctors are currently on nationwide warning strike to protest her prolonged captivity), are the sad depictions of the reality of worsening insecurity and government’s unsatisfactory response across the country. As of today, there are indeterminable number of reported and unreported hapless Nigerians in the hands and mercy of kidnappers in various forests and fortresses across the country.
Nigerians are no longer safe in their own country. They are not safe along the highways, they are not safe on the streets, they are not safe in schools, in farms, in churches nor mosques; not even in the sanctuary of their homes as kidnappers have laid siege everywhere!
This alarming escalation of kidnapping is a clear indication that kidnapping has become a lucrative business model for criminal elements. Even more disturbing is the fact that kidnapping is being used as a distraction to mask other chains of criminality including illegal mining, organ harvesting, ritualism, cannibalism, skull mining, etc. For instance, it has been established from the account of freed victims that some kidnappers harvest and sell the organs of victims whose families could not afford to pay the ransom,to ritualists.
Our Suggestions
In light of the above frightening development, we hereby urge the Federal Government to adopt a multi-faceted approach to combat this odious kidnapping epidemic. Firstly, we recommend significant investment in technology to enhance intelligence gathering and preempt kidnappings. This include deploying advanced surveillance systems in high-risk areas and integrating tech solutions into the national security framework.
Secondly, we suggest greater responsibility and accountability from the security forces. We suggest that henceforth, District Police Officers (DPOs) and Unit Commanders should be held directly responsible for incidences of kidnapping in their area of responsibility.This measure would incentivize local law enforcement to take proactive steps that will prevent such incidents, rather than merely reacting to them after the fact. More importantly, security forces must justify the huge expenses by government in the security sector by producing visible results in their fight against insecurity.
Furthermore, we would like to once again stress the importance of addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that contribute to the kidnapping crisis and indeed other insecurity plaguing the country. This include implementing economic empowerment programs in vulnerable communities, as well as improving access to education and healthcare, to reduce the appeal of criminal activities among the youth.
The Centre prescribing a coordinated national response to the kidnapping crisis. This involves not only strengthening the capacity of security agencies and deepening synergy between and among them but also fostering greater collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, to able to get on top of the situation.
The Federal Government must take swift and decisive action to reverse the current trend and restore peace, security and stability across the regions. We also call on the international community to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat kidnapping.
Time is of the essence. The government must act now to prevent a national crisis.
Signed,
Maj Gen Chris Olukolade (Rtd)
Chairman,
Centre for Crisis Communication
