President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mike Ejiofor, has raised concerns over the increasing wave of kidnappings in Nigeria, describing it as a ?franchise? and the ?quickest way to make money.?

Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Ejiofor was reacting to the recent kidnapping of a top member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for whom a ransom of N350 million was demanded. He noted that no one is exempt from the growing threat.

?It?s quite unfortunate that kidnapping has now become a franchise, the quickest way to make money, and nobody is exempted?politicians, religious leaders, community leaders, top government functionaries, legislators,? he said.

He attributed the rise in kidnappings to its growing profitability, explaining that criminals have abandoned robbery because people no longer keep large sums of money at home. Instead, they now target individuals for ransom.

?I think the reason why it?s on the rise is because people have turned it into a money-making venture,? Ejiofor said.

?The issue of robbery has declined because people don?t keep money at home, so what the kidnappers do is abduct their victims and make demands for ransom, and people are willing to pay, unfortunately.?

Ejiofor acknowledged that while many people criticise ransom payments, they often have little choice.

?You don?t blame people who go to pay for ransom. Some are mostly economic and some political, and because of the type of life we live In affluence, most people also expose themselves to these avoidable dangers,? he said.

He stressed the need for individuals, especially politicians, to adjust their lifestyles to avoid becoming easy targets.

?It is important that we moderate the way we live, especially among politicians, because they are the main targets now,? he said.

?As we speak, a lot of people are not happy with our politicians, and they have become easy targets. They must strengthen the security around themselves, which doesn?t necessarily mean surrounding themselves with policemen and escorts.?

Instead, he advised politicians to live modestly and stay connected to ordinary Nigerians.

?Live your normal life and continue to live like a normal Nigerian, and all these things would be avoided,? he said.

Beyond personal security measures, Ejiofor emphasised the role of economic conditions in fueling insecurity.

?Besides that, we should look at the issue of the economy. The government should not only try to fight kidnapping with force but also by providing an enabling environment for people to work,? he added.

Ejiofor also spoke about an upcoming annual lecture organised by the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, themed ?Mobilising Stakeholders to Curb Insecurity.?

He explained that the event was conceived as part of the association?s efforts to contribute to national security.

?Given the state of criminality in Nigeria, the association decided, as part of its contribution to society, to organize this seminar,? he said.

He underscored the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, involving both government and citisens, to tackle insecurity effectively.

?In response to curbing insecurity in Nigeria, we are looking at practical approaches involving everybody because we cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results,?he stated.

Ejiofor highlighted that the association consists of both serving and retired personnel from the military, security, intelligence, regulatory, and strategic agencies of government.

?The government and citizens have roles to play. This is our own way of contributing to ensure that we have a safe Nigeria,? he concluded. (AriseNews TV)

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