Kidnapping Incorporated

While the government of President Mohammadu Buhari (PMB) has virtually won the battle against Boko Haram insurgency, another more deadly crime is on the prowl.  This time, it is kidnapping. Abduction for ransom is surging beyond everyone’s comprehension.
What started a few years ago in the East, especially in the South East, which later spread and stagnated in Port Harcourt and Warri areas, has become a national calamity.
Since January 2016, over 400 known kidnapping episodes have occurred nationwide, with some fatal results. A pastor with acute diabetes died two days after his abduction a few kilometres from Gonigora, Kaduna.  Although his church settled the ransom, his lifeless body was all that was recovered.
There was another case of an elderly woman in Onitsha, whose five children contributed money to change her car. Her neighbour could not stand the new luxury for such an old woman. She called a group of kidnappers in Enugu, who abducted the old woman for four nights. The kidnappers were caught because they could not agree on the sharing formula.
A few weeks ago, in Port Harcourt, a foreigner working with an oil company was kidnapped. A huge ransom was paid to secure his release, but since the funds arrived late, the kidnappers ran out of patience and murdered him. His recovered body was flown back to his country.
As of writing this article, N50m ransom was being demanded by kidnappers for the release of Joseph Tsegba, a chief in Benue state. Also, two Indian nationals working in Dangote Cement factory in Gboko, Benue state, have been kidnapped since June 29. There is still no news on their position.
Between Kaduna and Abuja, this year alone, more than 40 cases have been recorded. There are cases whereby cars are left on Abuja -Kaduna road; owners have been whisked away for ransom. The frequency of occurrence is alarming, especially now that every 5km, police highway patrol make -believe- road -block is mounted.
Initially, what started against the wealthy in the society has graduated to indiscriminate abduction of poor innocent citizens. The kidnappers, in most cases, are young, restless school leavers, who have lost faith in the system; but must survive at all cost. Ransoms range from N100,000 to as much as N200m.
Although there is no single case where a victim’s family has paid up to N200m yet, ransoms in excess of N10m have been recorded. This thriving crime has gained notoriety with little resistance from law enforcement agencies.
A friend of mine who was abducted between Lokoja  and Ajaokuta (kidnappers’ den) in September of 2015, suffered in the hands of his abductors for three days and three nights, until the they finally accepted N800,000 ransom for his release.
His ordeal exposed a series of orchestrated, organised leadership. His abductors expressly narrated their involvement with a senior Police officer as their top -most boss, followed by a successful Fulani businessman.
Surprisingly, the three boys who kidnapped my friend were former Fulani herdsmen. Through orgnaised crime, they discovered the thriving business of abduction for ransom; a more profitable business than rearing cattle and fighting off cattle rustlers. The three young Fulanis engaged my friend in various conversations, ranging from politics to business. The kidnappers, even expressed their profound support for Jonathan’s administration for its liberalism. They could not hide their distaste for Buhari’s no -nonsense government.
According to them, they become brutal and deadly, only, when a captive becomes uncooperative with their demand or tries to flee.
The stories mentioned above are a few of many horrible experiences about how cheap life in Nigeria has become and, how easily anyone can become a victim.
What is appalling is the incessant and rampant cases of kidnapping all over the federation; how inefficient and helpless law enforcement agencies tend to mask their involvement. It is virtually impracticable that hundreds of kidnappers ambush travellers, and sometimes, within cities; people are abducted without trace, until a relative gets a demand for ransom call to secure release.
There are hundreds of similar kidnapping activities everywhere now, but the law seems unaffected about this rising crime.
There is always a connection between growing crime waves and poverty. Any student of criminology, psychology or sociology can validate this statement. But, even, when the economy of Nigeria was afloat, kidnapping emerged in Eastern Nigeria as means of curtailing flamboyancy of the affluent. It has gotten out of hand, unchecked.
Nigeria’s ailing economy of today is a natural precursor to increased criminality. What is scary, though, is the lukewarm attitude of the police. No one in this country will be surprised to hear that the police aid kidnappers to successfully hunt down innocent travellers.
Everyone is becoming terrified, especially foreigners, whose only crime is being in Nigeria. It is dehumanising to experience this ritual abuse in the hands of some imbeciles. But when a country thrives in corruption and lawlessness, kidnapping becomes an offshoot.
The federal government has a lot to do to minimise this rampant, newly found occupation. It is no secret that everyone is suffering from the scourge of harsh economic crunch; but adding fear to freedom of movement to search for one’s livelihood is uncalled for.
If the law enforcement agencies are incapable of helping citizens, then there is need to either scrap such an agency or change its leadership. The Nigerian police force is as corrupt as the kidnappers; in fact, they are the ultimate perpetrators of this heinous crime. It is incontrovertible to note that police officers in this country are untrustworthy because they will do anything, legal or not, to make money. They can rent out their guns to armed robbers for a substantial piece of the robbery.
The first responsibility of any rational government is to provide safety and security of life and property. The immediate past administration of Jonathan Goodluck failed to do that; it led to the proliferation of abduction for ransom.  Buhari, in addition recovering of looted funds, has both constitutional and moral duties to ensure that everyone in this country is protected.