Easy money, easy women, exotic cars, landed property are part of what characterized the world of kidnappers in Nigeria. Indeed, kidnappers are now being counted among the richest in Nigeria and are ‘Lords of the Manors’ in their communities.
Since the Niger Delta militants started kidnapping of expatriates, in order to highlight their grievances against the government, so many states borrowed a leaf from them. This was after it became clear that kidnapping was one of the cheapest ways of being catapulted into wealth.
After the Niger Delta militants were given amnesty, it because clear that many of them were stupendously rich, and some even became persons and voices to be reckoned with in Nigeria.
This seems to make it appear like kidnapping pays. Militia kidnappers, alleged to be from Niger Delta regions, are slowly taking over Nigeria.
Even as other crimes are reducing, kidnapping is surging and appears to be galloping out of control. Criminals, who are into other crimes, are taking to kidnapping on the sideline.
According to security experts’, kidnapping continues to snowball because; it’s quite easier and appears safer than robbery. Bank robberies entail a lot of work and manpower. Criminals going for bank robberies know they may have to contend with armed mobile policemen or soldiers, attached to the targeted financial institutions.
In kidnapping, the fewer members, the better. Also, another factor that contributes to the continual upsurge is that kidnappers can grab victims, anywhere, any day and anywhere.
In robberies, especially with the introduction of ATM cards, robbers are not certain of getting any return for their efforts in attacking homes. They often end up with phones, laptops and jewelry.
In kidnapping, no matter the status of the person kidnapped, the kidnappers would be sure to get some money.
Just as fast as the money comes into the possessions of these kidnappers, so also they fritter it away. They know that just another kidnap or major kidnaps, would replenish spent income. Those of them that bother to think of the future, buy cars and landed property.
The suspected kidnapper, Saidu Abdullahi, who killed the Catholic Priest, Reverend John Alex Adeyi (Ph.D.) in Benue State and abandoned his corpse inside the bush, said: “The family of the catholic priest paid N2m ransom. I got N750, 000 as my share. I used it to build four rooms apartment in my village, Bauchi State.”
Today, Nigerians are living in perpetual fear, afraid of taking a walk down the streets, worried that they could swoop upon by kidnappers.
Three kidnappers, Mr. Samson Shomorin, Olalekan Benjamin and Gbenga Sholaja are graduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
Shomorin said they joined kidnapping because they couldn’t get an employment after the National Youth Service Corps.
A police Corporal Paul Ibara should have been protecting kids from kidnappers; instead he became a kidnapper. He kidnapped his neighbour’s four-year-old son and demanded N5 m ransom.
He confessed to have taken to kidnapping because his father needed money for a surgery.
Patrick Onyeka, 24, in 2013, kidnapped his neighbour’s son, Ayuba. He said he kidnapped the little boy because he wanted to get his hands on some money. He demanded N5 m as ransom.
Onyeka said he came up with the kidnapping of Ayuba because he needed quick money. He knew Ayba’s dad works in an oil company and has about four to five cars.
A relative of three kids that were kidnapped in Lagos State and later released after payment of ransom, Mr. Olujimi Bolade, said: “The present government should address unemployment as a national emergency. Many families have graduates without jobs. That’s one of the reasons crimes are increasing.”
The Chief Executive Officer, consultant of Zenith Intelligence and Security Solution, Limited, Mr. Ethelbert Onuoha Oney, explains the upsurge in kidnapping thus: “Hunger, unemployment, discrimination, oppression, suppression, recession, disappointment, amongst other needs have increased over the years. The law enforcement agencies are doing their best to unravel this crime, but there is one fact that remains indisputable. You cannot give what you don't have. There are certain special skills and training which are available to developed countries' law enforcement agencies, which are not available to the Nigerian law enforcement agencies. And even if some of the officers are sent overseas to acquire these skills and training, they’ll go there to do shopping because of lack of oversight in our system.”
Oney said that another reason for the upsurge in kidnapping is corruption.
His words: “When a suspect is apprehended, if his boss comes up with N5m or there about, for bail. Our law enforcement agencies lack specific profiling and interrogative skills such as behavioral analysis and body language interpretation mechanisms. They should be exposed to modern technologies; so that they would be able to profile suspects after crimes have been committed. It’s called reactive investigation.”
He said that law enforcement agents should be patriotic and not pursue selfish interest alone. He said that unemployment, discrimination, suppression, and hunger should be tackled from above.
Oney added: “Our law enforcement agencies should be able to protect witnesses of the crime and their families. Generally, there is also a common belief among victims of this crime that there is absolute, inability of the judiciary system to combat this crime appropriately. This is supported by the media accounts of new tragedies or upsurge caused by this crime.”
