The Growing Business Of Kidnap

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Only Good Govt Can End Kidnapping

Until Nigeria has a government that is responsive to the needs of her citizens, the problem of kidnapping for ransom and, indeed, the plethora of crimes that riddle our country will not abate.
The problem started with the neglect of the Niger Delta region which generates the country’s wealth, and has spread to other parts where the general populace have been neglected. All the people hear about are promises – which are never fulfilled anyway – and the grandiose lifestyles of hitherto struggling politicians.
When will Nigerian politicians learn that they will be the first target of an angry citizenry when they can no longer bear their excesses.
Michael Ulasi,
Port Harcourt.

For as long as poverty and social neglect reign supreme in our society, curbing social ills and crime will remain a Herculean task. Things are expected to degenerate as people must seek desperate means to survive. That is one major reason why the business of seizing and holding people for ransom evolved, and continues to escalate by the day (“The Growing Business Of Kidnap,” TheNEWS, 18 August 2008 edition).

Kehinde Arinde,
Ilorin.

The kidnap business that was once an exclusive preserve of the Niger Delta region is gradually becoming a major headache across the country. The issue is no longer a matter of seizing a few expatriates to pass across the messages of an oppressed and deprived people, but strictly a means of making quick and easy money. Since criminal minds are not restricted to a section of the country alone, other parts have been tapping into such a ‘profitable’ venture. That is why the activity is widespread and on the increase lately.

Stanley Okpara,
Onitsha.

While I will never support crime, let’s face facts, I advise anybody unlucky enough to be caught in the web to cooperate with kidnappers. The risk involved in not doing so, is the permanent loss of the kidnapped. Our police are not sophisticated and equipped enough to fight mundane crimes effectively. Therefore, expecting magic from them when a kidnap occurs is tantamount to toying with the life of the seized person, even if the police assures us otherwise.

Ibrahim Rilwan,
Hotoro, Kano.

This is another knotty poser for the Nigeria Police to tackle. With a very unimpressive track record of solving crimes, I do not expect any spectacular protection from them. It is advisable for everybody to pay more attention to personal security.

Olumide Opatola,
Shagamu.

It is now obvious that we don’t have a reliable security system in Nigeria. Is it not a shame for the so-called Inspector-General of Police to admit that the business of kidnapping cannot be stopped. Who, then, can stop this worsening menace? Only the blood of Jesus can secure us now.

Femi Adewale,
Minna.

I am constrained to believe that most victims of kidnap are part of the ploy to demand ransom from rich relations or governments. Or how can one explain the role played by the daughter of a former deputy governor of one of the eastern states who was the protagonist in the activities that led to her kidnap?

Ayomide Gabriel,
Ile-Ife.

What is the hope for our country if the police throw up their hands in despair at the geometric increment of kidnapped for ransom?

Bukky Aremu,
Alagbado, Lagos.

The question I want to ask answer is, how do the kidnappers receive the said ransom? Is it by cash or is the money paid into their accounts? I believe there should be a way of checking those who perpetrate this criminality that has eaten deep into the psyche of the average Nigerian.

Segun Aworera,
Oshodi, Lagos.

Your cover story on the spread of kidnapping beyond the Niger Delta was quite timely. How would one explain this national disgrace that keeps making headlines across the world? I think it is high time we did something about this problem.

Isaac Ude,
Enugu.

Nigeria is fast becoming one of the most notorious countries in the world. We are yet to shed our toga of being the most corrupt nation, yet we are donning another as the most insecure.
Let’s be serious, the situation could hardly be otherwise. With reports of billions stolen everyday by our so-called leaders and no punishment meted to them, it is just natural that the citizenry would be tempted to devise their own devious plots of getting rich.

Pius Asu,
Onitsha.

Finally, hostage taking has become a big business. Before now, it was exclusively for the militants of the Niger Delta. Now, everybody is involved and making big money from this venture. Is this how to run a country?

James Adegwe,
Asaba.

Your cover story on the activities of kidnappers across the country made interesting reading. Thanks for raising awareness on this crime.

Paul Peters,
Lokoja.

Again, we are confronted by a big monster called hostage taking. Unless something is done urgently, we might just be heading into odium as a responsible member of the international community.

Ademola Ogunjimi,
Oshogbo.

Hostage taking is not peculiar to Nigeria. Often, we get reports from other parts of the world of how people are kidnapped. What is bizarre about our situation is the random demand for ransom by these kdnappers. The government should as a matter of urgency find a lasting solution to this embarrassing problem.

Michael Ubah,
Abraka.

I believe strongly that some people are encouranging these shameless acts of kidnapping. Those people that are always ready to dole out these millions of naira should be held responsible for this dangerous business.

Biodun Awotunde,
Ipara.

They wouldn’t tell the truth, but each time the victims of kidnappers are released, what we often hear from shameless government officials and the police is that they didn’t pay ransom. But any reasonable person will know that those boys would not continue to kidnap people if they don’t have anything to gain materially.

Biola Oguns,
Kaduna.

Kidnapping has dangerously turned into a mega business in Nigeria today. It seems to be a replacement for the lucrative but illegal Yahoo-Yahoo business.

Gbolahan Odukoya,
Lagos.

The incidence of hostage taking has become a full blown embarrassment to Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora. Nobody wants to come to the Niger Delta again because of the menace.

Ernest Uwakwe,
Port Harcourt.

The situation is so bad. Imagine Manchester United came to the country for the TINAPA invitation tournament with hostage negotiators. Do you really blame them? Our brothers have become kidnap and hostage merchants overnight.

Alex Otti,
Apapa, Lagos.

I don’t really know how this whole hostage and kidnap merchandising business began. But suffice to say that the situation has gone out of control. The government must declare a state of emergency on kidnappers right away.

Nice Okoro,
Enugu.

Hostage taking is a business taken too far. The youths of the Delta must be given basic re-orientation on the concept of resource control and wealth creation. No society can progress if the security of foreigners is not provided for.

Sylvester Okon,
Calabar.

The business of kidnap is not new in Nigeria. It has just heightened because of the spate of unrest in the Niger Delta. Until the Federal Government makes life worth living for Nigerians, this ugly trend will continue.

Mohammed Sani,
Kano.

Your cover story was an interesting read. With the spate of kidnapping currently in the country, nobody is safe. Yet the question that will continue to haunt us is: who is to blame for this business of kidnap? It is my belief that we are living in a society that is morally depraved. Until we start to re-orientate Nigerians, there will be no end to this scourge.

Bello Umaru,
Sokoto.

I blame our leaders for the rampant cases of kidnap in Nigeria. The fact is that they have not shown exemplary behaviour, that is why the masses indulge in this nasty business. To the masses, kidnapping is the easy way of making money.

John Ofili,
Enugu.

The President and others in government may ignore this vice as much as they can. But when members of their families are kidnapped, I think that will push them into taking action!

Cosmas Eberechukwu,
Abakaliki.

While some militants are pursuing their demands through acts of sabotage, it is disheartening that others have hijacked the process. They now kidnap people for ransom.

Christian Chukwumeka,
Owerri.

If the federal government does not act fast in solving the Niger Delta problems, vices worse than kidnapping will emerge.

Mohammed Abdul,
Sokoto.

I am a Hausa/Fulani, but I sympathise with our Niger Delta brothers. What my people who are in positions of authority are doing to them is bad, too bad.

Salihu Mahmood,
Damaturu.

It beats my imagination why Nigerian youths think kidnapping is the only way of making money. It only shows that our youths are as devilish as our leaders, or who do they look up to? Is it not our leaders who corruptly enrich themselves and don’t even allow the crumbs to trickle down to the have-nots?

Femi Olurin,
Ibadan.

Why won’t kidnapping not be big business? Since the government has failed to provide jobs for thousands of youth that graduate from our universities every year, kidnapping seems to have become a very lucrative pastime for them.

Maxwell Tonwe,
Warri.