Several retired military generals have provided disturbing insights into why kidnapping syndicates continue to operate with impunity across Nigeria despite intensified security operations, pointing to alleged collusion between criminals and security personnel, alongside insufficient coordination among law enforcement agencies.
The security experts identified systemic issues enabling the persistent kidnapping crisis that continues to terrorize citizens across the country, with numerous high-profile cases highlighting the kidnappers’ increasingly brutal tactics.
Among recent victims was former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (Retd), who was forcibly taken at gunpoint from his hometown in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on February 5, alongside nine other residents. After being held captive for nearly two months and following failed negotiations for an initial N250 million ransom demand, his family ultimately paid over N60 million to secure his release.
In a more tragic case, Delta State farmer Godwin Anuka was murdered in front of his wife and children on March 29, after their abduction in the Ubulu-Uku area. Harrison Gwamnishu, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, revealed that the gunmen had previously kidnapped two other individuals identified as Chibueze and Afam.
Further demonstrating the kidnappers’ ruthlessness, three abducted residents of Surubu community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed on March 22 despite substantial ransom payments, while Anambra State lawmaker Justice Azuka was found dead near the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, over a month after his December 24 abduction in Onitsha.
Former Commandant of Army Signals and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, General Ishola Williams (Retd), offered a scathing assessment, alleging direct complicity between kidnappers and security personnel.
“There are criminals colluding with security agencies. Some of these kidnappers, particularly the high-profile ones, are well known to the security agencies. That’s why no one has been able to take action against them,” Williams stated. “In some cases, there is even a contract between the kidnappers and the security agencies.”
The retired general noted that while telecommunication companies typically cooperate with authorities to track communications from kidnappers, sophisticated cybercriminals have developed methods to manipulate network systems, potentially with assistance from insiders within telecom companies.
Major General Dayo Olukoju (Retd), former Director of Procurement at the Defence Headquarters and current President of the Akoko Security Peace and Development Council, identified insufficient coordination between security and communication agencies as a fundamental problem.
“Why would people use phones, and you still can’t track the users? In a country where you have the NIMC and NCC, people are registered and using phones, yet they remain untraceable,” Olukoju questioned. “Nigeria was not like this before. Why is kidnapping becoming a daily occurrence? It’s because people are making money from it.”
Olukoju advocated for special courts dedicated to kidnapping cases to prevent prosecutions from becoming entangled in judicial bureaucracy, while also revealing disturbing reports of kidnap victims being killed for their body parts.
An anonymous retired Colonel further alleged widespread complicity, describing scenarios where ransom payments marked by banks are immediately identified by kidnappers. “Who is releasing the intelligence that the money is marked? This suggests that, from the bank to everyone connected, many people are involved in the operation,” he stated.
The scale of kidnapping operations was recently highlighted by Afenifere National Youth President Eniola Ojajuni following his release after 12 days in captivity. Ojajuni disclosed that kidnappers maintain at least 55 camps strategically positioned across the South-West region alone.
Security analysts suggest that breaking these sophisticated kidnapping networks will require significantly improved intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, alongside decisive action against suspected insiders facilitating these criminal enterprises.
