The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has sounded the alarm on Nigeria's escalating kidnapping crisis, urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to address the national security threat.

The Chairman of the CCC, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), in a press release, expressed concern that the situation will degenerate into a crisis if left unchecked, endangering innocent lives and undermining national security.

According to the Centre, the kidnapping epidemic has evolved into a lucrative industry, with criminal groups and terrorist organizations adopting it as a primary source of revenue. Despite security measures, the trend has deepened insecurity and paved the way for other violent crimes.

Recent incidents include the killing of a traditional ruler in Sokoto emirate, the abduction of 20 medical students who were later freed, and the prolonged captivity of Dr. Ganiat Popoola, a medical doctor.

The CCC recommends a multi-faceted approach to combat kidnapping, including significant investment in technology, greater responsibility and accountability from security forces, and addressing underlying socio-economic factors.

The Centre also prescribes a coordinated national response, involving strengthened security agency capacity, deepened synergy, and greater collaboration between federal, state, and local governments.

The CCC calls on the international community to support Nigeria's efforts to combat kidnapping and urges the government to act swiftly to prevent a national crisis.

See below, the Full Press Statement by CCC:

CENTRE FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION

PRESS RELEASE, 28 August 2024.

DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY ON ESCALATING KIDNAPPING CRISIS NOW!

The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) is sounding the alarm on the recent disturbing kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, and urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to stem the tide of this national security threat. The Centre is convinced that without decisive action, the situation will degenerate into a crisis proportion, further endangering innocent lives and undermining national security.

The kidnapping epidemic has evolved from sporadic criminal activity into a full-blown lucrative industry, with criminal-minded individuals, bandit groups and terrorist groups adopting it as a primary source of revenue. This alarming trend, even in the face of security measures being put in place, has not only deepened insecurity but also paved the way for other forms of violent crimes, severely destabilizing the nation.

Since the beginning of the year, Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic and disturbing series of abductions, with the Northwest currently becoming the epicenter of the crisis. Just recently, the nation was jolted by the reported killing of a traditional ruler in Sokoto emirate who was earlier abducted on his way home by bandits. Few days before his eventual death in the hands of the abductors, the monarch was seen in a video pleading for his life while in captivity. It was quite saddening that despite the viral video that trended on social media, he was not rescued until he was savagely murdered by the kidnappers.

It was only when the news of his death broke that government officials began to talk tough and issue directives. More saddening is the report that days after the death of the traditional ruler in the hands of his merciless abductors, the bandits regrouped, stormed communities in the same axis and reportedly abducted not less than 150 people! Those folks are still in the hands of the bandits.

The story of the late Emir of Gobir and his community, the 20 medical students who were abducted on their way to Enugu (but later freed) as well as that of Dr Ganiat Popoola, a medical doctor who has spent about eight months in the abductors’ den (doctors are currently on nationwide warning strike to protest her prolonged captivity), are the sad depictions of the reality of worsening insecurity and unsatisfactory response at the three tiers of government since security is everyone’s business.

As of today, there are indeterminable number of reported and unreported hapless Nigerians in the hands and mercy of kidnappers in various forests and fortresses across the country.

Nigerians are no longer safe in their own country. They are not safe along the highways, they are not safe on the streets, they are not safe in schools, in farms, in churches nor mosques; not even in the sanctuary of their homes as kidnappers have laid siege everywhere!

As of today, there are indeterminable number of reported and unreported hapless Nigerians in the hands and mercy of kidnappers in various forests and fortresses across the country.

It is quite alarming the frequently reported cases of abductions on the highways, schools and places of worship which is a clear indication that kidnapping is gradually becoming a lucrative business model for criminal elements.

Even more disturbing is the fact that kidnapping is being used as a distraction to mask other chains of criminality including illegal mining, organ harvesting, ritualism, cannibalism, skull mining, etc. For instance, it has been established from the account of freed victims that some kidnappers harvest and sell the organs of victims whose families could not afford to pay the ransom, to ritualists.

Even more disturbing is the fact that kidnapping is being used as a distraction to mask other chains of criminality including illegal mining, organ harvesting, ritualism, cannibalism, skull mining, etc. For instance, it has been established from the account of freed victims that some kidnappers harvest and sell the organs of victims whose families could not afford to pay the ransom, to ritualists.

Our Suggestions

While commending the concerted efforts and ongoing joint operations of the the security services, we hereby urge the Federal Government to adopt a multi-faceted approach to combat this odious kidnapping epidemic.

Firstly, we recommend significant investment in technology to enhance intelligence gathering and preempt kidnappings. This include deploying advanced surveillance systems in high-risk areas and integrating tech solutions into the national security framework.

Secondly, we suggest greater responsibility and accountability from the security forces. We suggest that henceforth, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other related Unit Commanders of security service should be held directly responsible for incidences of kidnapping in their respective areas of responsibility. This measure would incentivize local law enforcement to take proactive steps that will prevent such incidents, rather than merely reacting to them after the fact.

More importantly, security forces must justify the huge expenses by government in the security sector by producing visible results in their fight against insecurity.

Furthermore, we would like to once again stress the importance of addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that contribute to the kidnapping crisis and indeed other insecurity plaguing the country. This include implementing economic empowerment programs in vulnerable communities, as well as improving access to education and healthcare, to reduce the appeal of criminal activities among the youth.

The Centre prescribing a coordinated national response to the kidnapping crisis. This involves not only strengthening the capacity of security agencies and deepening synergy between and among them but also fostering greater collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, to able to get on top of the situation.

The Government should take swift and decisive action to reverse the current trend and restore peace, security and stability across the regions. We also call on the international community to support Nigeria's efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Time is of the essence. The government must act now to prevent a national crisis.

(By PRNigeria)

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