Prominent opposition parties have criticised the Federal Government and Security Agencies in Nigeria for failing to handle the growing wave of insecurity, particularly with the high prevalence of Kidnapping incidents. This concern was raised following the recent release of a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showing that Nigerians paid ₦2.23 trillion in Ransom between May 2023 and April 2024 to kidnappers. Stakeholders and political parties have reacted widely to the statistics. Speaking, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party national publicity secretary stated that the situation is concerning, noting that kidnappings have grown to be a lucrative criminal activity nationwide.
He emphasized the grave consequences of the statistic, pointing out that, out of 230 million Nigerians, at least one in every hundred had been abducted in the previous 12 months. Ifoh chastised the administration for its poor response in spite of large Security budgetary allotments. He noted that daily life had been interrupted by insecurity, which had increased the risk of performing activities like farming. The increase in kidnappings, especially in recent years, has drawn widespread condemnation not only from political stakeholders but also from citizens alike, highlighting the severity of the situation.
68 mass kidnappings have occurred in 2024 alone.
Initially, kidnappers targeted prominent individuals, such as politicians and corporate elites due to their high ransom value. However as the Economy deteriorates, common people, students, and even children have started to be targeted more frequently. The nation’s security issue is depicted in bleak statistics. Since 2019, over 15,398 people have been the victims of at least 735 mass abductions (classified as kidnappings of five or more) in Nigeria. At least 68 mass kidnappings have occurred in 2024 alone, with an average of more than one per day, the total number of victims has surpassed the combined totals for 2019 and 2020.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, at least 7,568 people were kidnapped in 1,130 cases nationwide, according to the study. During the period, at least ₦10,995,090,000 (about $6,871,931) was requested as ransom by the kidnappers, however, they only got ₦1,048,110,000, or 9.5% of the total amount asked. With 1,056 victims dying in 1,130 reported kidnap occurrences during the year under consideration in this research, kidnapping has become increasingly deadly. Every attempted kidnapping results in the death of one person on average.
Critics contend that the government has not done enough.
This trend indicates a concerning increase in occurrences, underscoring the expanding capacities of criminal organizations and the government’s incapacity to control them. Critics contend that the government has not done enough to address the security situation, despite large budgetary investments in security services. For instance, defense and security received 12 percent of the approved 2024 national budget, yet there hasn’t been much discernible progress in practice. Many people perceive the situation as exacerbated due to corruption, poor management, and a lack of responsibility within security institutions.
Oppositions accused the government of allowing Insecurity to worsen by neglecting to address structural problems including unemployment, poverty, and inadequate law enforcement. They noted the problem has been made worse by improper intelligence collection and a failure to properly equip and inspire security forces. Furthermore, allegations of coordination between criminal factions and some government officials have increased popular mistrust and stoked the idea that the government is complicit in the insecurity issue bedeviling the country.
Related Article: Nigeria ban crowdfunding ransom to kidnappers
As the specter of ransom-driven criminality continues to engulf Nigeria’s security system, the opposition has demanded immediate reforms. The opposition and Civil Society organisations have called for the prioritisation of citizens’ protection and that clear and practical security measures be implemented. They call for investments in Technology and intelligence, better Welfare for security workers, and increased openness in security spending. The government, however, continues to defend its efforts by pointing to programs to enhance community policing and modernize the military. However, these steps seem insufficient given that insecurity is still at historically high levels.