In recent years, Nigeria has been plagued by the ongoing problem of ransom payments, particularly in cases of kidnapping and cybercrime. Despite advancements in banking and telecommunications technology, the practice of paying ransom continues to thrive. This phenomenon raises critical questions about the underlying factors that contribute to the persistence of ransom payments in Nigeria, as well as the barriers to effective countermeasures. Report by ROLAND OGBONNAYA, NICHOLAS UWERUNONYE, SEGUN OLANIYAN, and TITILOPE JOSEPH

The debate was reignited recently following the kidnapping of 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State. Following the kidnapping, which sparked public outrage, President Bola Tinubu issued marching orders to his security chiefs to ensure that the schoolchildren were released unharmed and without a ransom payment.

Early in the week, there was good news that 153 of the 287 were rescued without any ransom paid to the bandits. There were concerns about the remaining children if a ransom was not paid. Prof. Joy N. Ezeilo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking praised the military’s bravery in rescuing the children but demanded more explanations about the military’s rescue of 153 Nigerians on Sunday.

The Law Professor expressed her concerns on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “I am grateful to God and commend the military for rescuing 153 Nigerian children and women on Sunday.” This is a huge relief for their parents, families, and all well-wishing Nigerians, includeing the international community. There are still many details about this rescue operation that are unclear. For example, we now know that only 137 (76 females and 61 males) of the rescued individuals were Kaduna students, despite earlier reports indicating that 287 students were kidnapped. This raises several questions that must be answered. It also emphasises Nigeria’s ongoing issue with poor record-keeping, data management, transparency, and information sharing.

“How many children were abducted from Kaduna School? Was it true that all of the abducted children were rescued? How did they transport them from Kaduna to Zamfara State? What about the kidnappers and abductees? Was there not even one arrest or casualty? There might be more to this than meets the eye. Was this a case of negotiations and ransom payment? Nobody knows because so much remains hidden.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, quickly stated that no ransom was paid by the federal government to secure the release of 137 students kidnapped in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to Idris, the president praised the security services for ensuring the safe return of the abductees and promised that all those involved in the abduction would be apprehended and punished.

However, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated on Sunday that 137 students were rescued, despite previous reports of 287. According to Buba, the students were rescued by the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday. This was before Kaduna-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi offered to dialogue with the terrorists who kidnapped the Kuriga schoolchildren.

According to reports, over N13,662,500,000 ransom was paid to non-state actors between June 2011 and July 11, 2022. The figures were based on media reports of prominent incidents in which large ransoms were paid to secure the release of abducted citizens, a private organisation, and the Zamfara State government during the period under consideration. There were also numerous cases where ransoms paid to secure the release of abducted individuals were not disclosed.

According to SB Morgen Intelligence, kidnappers received at least $18.34 million in ransom between June 2011 and March 2020. Also, according to the House of Representatives’ National Security Summit Report, up to $2.4 million was paid to secure the release of schoolchildren in five separate mass kidnapping incidents in the North-West in November 2020. Former Zamfara State Commissioner for Information Ibrahim Dosara stated in April 2021 that between 2011 and 2019, bandits collected N970 million in ransom from victims’ families.

On May 29, 2021, the parents of the abducted Greatfield University students revealed that they paid a ransom of N150 million and purchased eight motorcycles for the bandits to secure their children’s release, demonstrating how large the business has grown over time.

What has perplexed many security experts and other stakeholders is why kidnapping and ransom payments have increased exponentially despite advancement in banking technology and the expansion of telecommunications and other technologies.

Ransom payments on behalf of kidnap victims in Nigeria will continue, according to Ahmed Abdulkadir Bakori, a retired federal civil servant and public commentator, for a variety of reasons. Bakori identified several key factors associated with this menace, including a lack of trust, inefficiencies in the justice system, limited access to banking services, anonymity, fear, and desperation.

According to him, victims and their families may have lost faith in the authorities’ ability to handle the situation effectively. They may prefer to negotiate and pay the kidnappers directly. Similarly, he believes that some people have little faith in the justice system and fear that reporting the crime will result in further harm or delays in the victim’s release, leading them to accept ransom payments instead.

He stated that, while banking technology has advanced, not all areas in Nigeria now have easy access to banking services, making cash transactions more convenient for both kidnappers and victims’ families. He stated that using technology does not ensure complete anonymity, as kidnappers may still find ways to conceal their identities and demand ransom payments in untraceable forms such as cryptocurrency or through intermediaries.

He added that kidnapping incidents frequently instil fear and desperation in the victims and their families and that in such cases, they may be willing to pay the ransom quickly to ensure the safe release of their loved ones. Bakori did, however, advise the Nigerian government to address these issues and improve security measures to reduce the occurrence of kidnappings and ransom payments.

Dr Mukhtar Kasim, an academic and political activist, urged the federal government to rethink its security architecture to meet the people’s yearnings and aspirations. He stated that until security agencies can understand the specifics of the bandits’ actions, ransom payments will continue, as the kidnappers see weakness on the part of government officials who also use the system to amass wealth.

He also expressed regret that the government has no proactive measures in place to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other vices; instead, it is prepared to maintain its image by paying ransoms to allow abductees to reunite with their families. He noted that security experts, observers, and stakeholders had previously warned the government about the consequences of ransom payments, emphasising that the more ransoms paid, the more motivated these miscreants become.

He did, however, attribute the current increase in bandit activity to the recent formation of security outfits by the governments of Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States, noting that the bandits are not deterred and are prepared to mobilise to face the consequences. He stated that it has demonstrated serious security lapses and failures in the country’s technological advancements and that the issue of BVN, NIN, and others has not helped security agencies detect the locations of abducted people for rescue missions.

According to him, “This shows that we are either failing technologically or there is connivance and deliberate attempt by some government officials to sabotage its efforts, as these instruments are supposed to be used to detect and prevent such heinous acts from occurring in the country.”

Mr Kabir Akingbolu, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, stated that the only reason the kidnapping business is thriving in Nigeria is the failure of the government’s various security agencies to work together or collaborate to ensure that one goal is met, which is to secure the nation. There are many disgruntled elements within the security agencies, and the entire security apparatus must be overhauled to produce a highly effective result. Otherwise, the kidnapping business will inevitably thrive.

In his words: “I believe there should be a special court for kidnapping now, where those who are apprehended should be dealt with decisively and without delay. Any kidnapper should almost certainly face the death penalty. This will reduce it, and the government should find a way to identify those involved in all of these criminal activities because the Buhari regime stated that they know who is fueling crises.

“When you look at it, the issue of ransom cannot be resolved because a large number of kidnappers have been arrested. Between Kaduna and Abuja, some were arrested in Zamfara State, others across the country, and some were police officers, while others were soldiers. So it appears that some criminal elements have infiltrated the security agencies.

“So, until these criminal elements are apprehended, the situation will persist. Once again, some Boko Haram members have infiltrated the ranks of the soldiers.

“Those Boko Haram who were arrested and allowed to join the Nigerian army under the guise of repentance will always be criminals. They will always share information with their friends in the bush. As a result, banditry will become more prevalent. There is no way that banditry, kidnapping, and everything else will stop until we are ready to ensure that the military is populated by those who are truly worthy of being military men.

“Who are the people who are collecting ransom payments? How are they getting their money? You can track down anyone using a telecommunication device. Why are they not getting all of this? Whenever our security personnel acquire new aircraft, fighting jets, or anything else that can be used to track them, Nigerian soldiers will go on social media, the Internet, or grant interviews and state all of the aeroplane’s components, and criminals will find a way to fight back.

“You do not reveal your tricks or tactics to your enemies. Also, when they apprehend one of three or four kidnappers, they claim to have chosen one and that the others are on the run and being sought. Do you have to talk? Until you have completed your investigation and gathered all of your facts. You do not reveal all of your secrets. These are the options; you do not need to reveal your tactics until you have completed your investigation and concluded your findings. This is one way to go,” he said.

Mr. Bayo Akinlade, a lawyer and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu Branch and a former member of the NBA NEC, believes it is unfortunate that ransoms are not paid via bank transfers or cheques, and that criminals collect cash or other untraceable items of value. He went on to say that he is sceptical of kidnapping news, claiming that he does not believe some of the stories about so-called kidnappings, particularly in the north.

“Many things do not add up. What political, economic, or social value do the kidnapped girls have, even according to their parents? I have seen children in the north who cannot even identify their parents and the value placed on a female child is lower than that of a male child. This is an issue that requires immediate investigation.”

Professor A.Y Muhammed, a lawyer and sociology professor at the University of Ilorin, told Saturday INDEPENDENT this week that kidnapping for ransom is sociologically linked to a decline in society’s value system, lacks social control measures, and a crass demand for wealth.

“Globally, how to solve security issues dominates international debate. Nigeria’s problem is not unique. Kidnapping is becoming increasingly common due to its high-profit potential.

“It will continue until the government takes decisive action to curb the menace. Kidnapping is a reaction to perceived neglect and carelessness in the past. The environment should include a symbol of care and watchfulness. Every perceived minor act of disorder and antisocial behaviour must be addressed to prevent a serious crime.

“This was not done in Nigeria until the issue of kidnapping for ransom became a national scandal. Kidnapping has evolved into a specialised crime that threatens the economy as well as the nation’s peace and security. Despite technological advancements, kidnapping for ransom has persisted because developing countries, including Nigeria, have few or no mechanisms in place to combat the excesses of cybercrime.”

Mr. Henry Abrahams, a resident of Ilorin in Kwara State, expands on the narrative, explaining that “kidnapping for ransom has remained prevalent in Nigeria despite all efforts by the government and security agencies to curb it because enough deterrent is not being set. As it stands, the law is still insufficient to combat the menace. According to the news, for every bandit arrested, more than five more are apprehended. This is unlikely to be the case in reality. The point is that security agencies must not only work hard but also demonstrate that they are working hard.”

Other stakeholders believe that security forces in Nigeria can use a variety of technologies to improve their capabilities and effectiveness in combating kidnapping. Some examples include making good use of technology, such as installing and expanding the use of surveillance systems, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. This can aid in monitoring and identifying potential kidnapping hotspots. These systems can be used in public places such as schools, highways, markets, and other sensitive areas.

Others are using GIS technology to help security agencies map and analyse crime patterns, including kidnappings. GIS can provide valuable information about the locations, frequency, and nature of kidnappings, allowing law enforcement to allocate resources strategically. Simultaneously, the development and implementation of secure communication systems for law enforcement agencies is critical to ensuring quick and effective coordination during kidnapping incidents. This could include encrypted radio systems, secure mobile apps, or dedicated communication networks.

Using advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to analyse existing data can help detect patterns and predict potential kidnapping threats. Analysing historical kidnapping data, socioeconomic conditions, and demographic information can help security forces identify high-risk areas and implement preventive measures.

Developing user-friendly mobile applications that allow citizens to report suspicious activity or issue emergency alerts can aid in timely response and information collection. Such applications can include features like panic buttons, location sharing, and direct communication with law enforcement. According to these experts, law enforcement agencies will strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure and expertise, which is critical for preventing cyber-enabled kidnappings and tracking criminal networks’ digital footprints. It can improve digital forensics and intelligence gathering from online platforms, which can help investigators and prevent kidnappings.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging can help with surveillance, quick response, and gathering actionable intelligence. They are capable of covering large areas quickly and providing law enforcement agencies with real-time data.

To find long-term solutions, Dr Kasim stated that the issue of bribery and corruption must be addressed by closing all loopholes in the country’s budget allocations, which have been linked to an increase in banditry and other crimes in the country.

“I believe that for it to work, the government must enforce compliance in financial transactions while also enhancing organisational synergy.” (Saturday Independent)

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