It is entirely in line with the character of Nigerian leaders to moan about problems, which ordinarily, are their responsibility to solve. The latest display of this disgraceful disposition came last Saturday from the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, who openly expressed apprehension over the spate of insecurity in the country; while rating Nigeria as the country with the highest number of kidnap-for-ransom cases in the Sahel region. Apparently miffed by the spate of kidnapping and banditry in Katsina, the Governor who spoke at a two-day security awareness seminar for Imams and Islamic leaders in Katsina, claimed kidnappers have migrated from other countries within the region to Nigeria. But Masari failed to tell Nigerians what he plans to do about the siege currently laid on his state and the country by kidnappers. The failure of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to roll out a cohesive and comprehensive strategy on security has raised anxiety among Nigerians, even as the problem continues to spiral out of control. Because of financial gain, the scourge has become a booming industry. There is therefore the need for the government to address it squarely as public enemy number-one.
Masari stated that: “Nigeria is the richest country among countries in Sahel region. So, all those engaged in kidnapping business and selling of guns have shifted their attention to Nigeria because it is here that they can kidnap somebody and get N10,000,000, N50,000,000, and even N100,000,000.” According to him, “There is no doubt this country is facing different security challenges. Although, the problem of Boko Haram has reduced but banditry and kidnapping is still with us. The bandits started with the rustling of cows, later killings, kidnapping, raping of women and girls, burning of villages and foodstuffs belonging to residents of the state.” The governor noted that kidnapping and killings of innocent citizens across the country has remained a daily occurrence and the menace need to be tackled by all and sundry instead of depending on security agencies whom he said are inadequate.
The rampant abduction of prominent citizens, clearly points to the disgusting level that the kidnapping malaise is assuming; and is indicative that shadowy individuals, possibly in positions of authority, may be involved. In the past, kidnapping victims tended to be the wealthy and prominent, and the kidnappers had a vested interest in keeping their victims alive to extract the maximum ransom possible. But a new report from SB Morgen, a Nigerian consulting firm, using open source data from the US-based Council of Foreign Relations Nigeria Security Tracker, shows that, the pool of kidnapped victims has expanded to include poor villagers, who are much more likely to die for failing to pay up! The report also revealed that between 2011 and 2020, over $18 million was paid in ransom; ranging from $1,000 to $150,000, depending on the victim’s economic situation. In many parts of Nigeria, kidnapping appears to have become a business, especially for otherwise unemployed youth. SB Morgen expressed concern that kidnapping will increase as Nigeria falls into recession driven by the coronavirus and the fall in oil prices, with spiraling unemployment.
It is unacceptable that any citizen, irrespective of status, could be abducted so easily by gangs of kidnappers in different parts of the country. Kidnapping has clearly become a national malaise, with an epicenter in the South generally, and the South-South and South-East, in particular. Both the federal and state authorities should face the major challenge thus ensuing, bearing in mind that for every reported kidnapping case, many others are not reported for fear of victimization by the perpetrators. The malaise has assumed epidemic proportion, further raising public apprehension and adding to the alarming wave of insecurity and criminality ravaging the country. This is strongly condemnable and should no longer be tolerated. And government should be proactive rather than merely reactive. No government worth its salt should allow the kind of permissiveness now associated with kidnapping which has become intractable across the country.
There is no doubt that the extant level of policing in the country is ineffective. If the country is to fully tackle kidnapping and other criminalities plaguing it, it should be ready to re-examine the structure of policing, and to eventually work towards decentralization in line with the dictates of true federalism. Law and order is non-negotiable as a stimulus for peace and development. The authorities should equally be worried that the level of insecurity in the country has so overwhelmed the police, such that in most of the kidnap incidents, police orderlies are killed. It is better to police the entire community than individuals. Experience shows that not only has attaching one or two police details to an individual failed to prevent criminals from attacking, the arrangement actually makes policemen more vulnerable to daring criminals.
Also, the proliferation of arms in the country is something that has helped in criminal activities. The infiltration of all sorts of arms shows failure of security. The governance structure has failed to live up to expectation. Government should work to curb arms’ proliferation. Another factor that has helped to promote kidnapping is the ostentatious life style of government officials and politicians. It is common to see politicians, even local government chairmen, rise from nothing to affluence, parading chains of exotic vehicles in a country stricken with poverty, and to the chagrin of the suffering masses.
There is no doubt that people are angry with the system. Millions of young people have no jobs. Good governance that will ensure gainful employment to the teeming youth, and bridge the wide gulf between the rich and the poor is an urgent imperative to eradicating kidnapping and other criminal activities. According to a recent report on the state of human rights; in the south-east and south-south geopolitical regions of the country, kidnapping has become an industry. Indeed, the authorities appear overwhelmed by the situation. There are hardly any instance of successful arrest and prosecution of kidnappers, thus provoking the suspicion of a possible collaboration from law enforcement agencies.
That the security agencies in the country seem to be losing control over the activities of hoodlums and armed bandits ravaging the country is worrisome. The time has come for the leadership of Nigeria to live up to their primary duty of ensuring the security of lives and property, as no one is immuned from the widespread terror in the land. Not even public office holders. There has been so much bloodletting, and the long-term effect on economic development is best imagined. It is common knowledge that foreign direct investment is sensitive to environments of insecurity. The terror in Nigeria calls for soul-searching. What is the country not doing right? Beyond physical security measures to protect lives and property, government must begin to interrogate the economic and political bases of the prevailing kidnapping plague. How can government curb the leakage in the system, encourage genuine productive activities and get most of the unemployed youth gainfully engaged? Besides, are there genuine political reasons behind the activities of terror organizations like Boko Haram and how could it be addressed? These are the urgent tasks before the political leadership in the country today, and they need to act fast to stem the spreading anarchy.
