Let’s face kidnapping, before we get carried away

From all corners of the nation, the scourge of kidnapping is proving to be a formidable problem indeed. From lost Fulani criminals, to Ijaw militants, from bloodthirsty madmen like Boko Haram, to creek-dwelling hoodlums in the Lagos axis, the nation is in the grip of criminally-minded enemies of peace and security. Some of the stories […]

From all corners of the nation, the scourge of kidnapping is proving to be a formidable problem indeed. From lost Fulani criminals, to Ijaw militants, from bloodthirsty madmen like Boko Haram, to creek-dwelling hoodlums in the Lagos axis, the nation is in the grip of criminally-minded enemies of peace and security. Some of the stories are absolutely horrific, and even blood-curdling. And before you imagine only the wealthy are abducted for ransom, think again: Even poor villagers get kidnapped for ransom as low as N10,000 according to reports I’ve heard.

The police force has been doing a good job tackling kidnappers generally, but honestly, needs to do much more. Yes, the security challenges around the nation are legion, but isn’t that what the police force was created to handle? The response is generally reactionary from the police, after the fact, and after the misdeed has been done by the criminals. How about pre-emptive strikes and measures? How about intelligence-gathering? How about team-ups with the Army and others? There should please be a robust approach to this.

When it comes to kidnapping, there is currently a spike in it across the nation, if reports are to be believed. I also work in the transport sector, so I get a lot of firsthand information about the activities of kidnappers. Victims should be interviewed, ransom negotiators should provide insight, and locals around kidnap-prone areas stealthily spoken to (for their own safety), and so on. Plain clothes cops should be deployed as was done in the past days; you’ll be surprised how much valuable information could be gleaned from this.

Also, when it comes to the issue of kidnapping, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Kpotun, seems to get touchy unnecessarily. He should remember that when people are under siege, they have to turn their gaze to their appointed protectors with the hope of solace. No-one wants the Nigerian police to fail. If it fails, then we all will suffer for it. The IGP should take criticism in stride, and see it as constructive commentary meant to help the operations of his men.

One of the promises of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that of improved security. Without security, there can never be progress. Kidnapping needs to end, and now. We cannot have hoodlums influencing our right to free movement to conduct our legitimate businesses. Before it turns into something worse than it is now, we need a decisive blow, and from all our security agencies. I will end this with the risk of sounding patronising, and like a broken record: Please, to all concerned (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence Corps), I say thank you on behalf of all right-thinking Nigerians. May God help us all.

Umar wrote in from Fagge, Kano.