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.
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