Introduction: The first tranche of this series titled ‘’Security Risk Analysis: Kidnapping Hotbeds in Nigeria (1)’’, summed up data on reported kidnapping incidents and hotspots across Nigeria. Granted there are one-off incidents, but research indicates that many kidnapping incidents reoccur within some geographical swathes, along major highways in Nigeria. The kidnapping almost always entails an ambush usually at bad portions of the road and usually take place early in the morning or evenings. We can deduce inter-alia that: there is dearth of security in such areas. It is also safe to extrapolate that the masterminds, foot soldiers of kidnappings in those climes are not behind bars; they lurk around and it is a matter of time before they stage their next kidnap and extort ransom. In his May 28, 2019 piece published on BBC Africa, Nasidi Adamu Yahaya’s piece titled, ‘’How Nigeria and its president are being held to ransom’’, chronicles the ‘booming business of kidnapping for ransom and extortion (KRE) in Nigeria’. Former US ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell argues in his piece titled, ‘’The Intelligence Response Team: Nigeria’s Solution To Expanding Wave of Kidnappings’’ that, ‘’Nigerians believe they are in the midst of a kidnapping wave and that the government is largely powerless to stop it. Fear of kidnapping appears to be a factor in middle-class emigration from Nigeria and the wealthy sending their families abroad’’.
- DON OKEREKE, SECURITY ANALYST/CONSULTANT
- Nigeria Watch International
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