With abduction having evolved into a lucrative trade…, by Adekunle Adekoya

The working week drawing to a close has been marred by an onslaught of kidnappings and killings, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, with the nation still reeling from the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State and Askira Uba in Borno State.

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Gunmen launched a brazen attack on Ogbomoso, targeting the offices of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and making off with firearms from officers on duty, in a daring raid that occurred around 10pm on Tuesday night.

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The terrorists have adopted a defiant stance, refusing to engage in negotiations with the families of their victims and instead insisting on communicating solely with state officials, a move that has raised the stakes in the crisis.

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On Wednesday, it emerged that the terrorists are demanding a whopping 1 billion ransom, to be paid into an account in Benin Republic, as well as the release of detained accomplices, two Toyota Hilux vehicles, weapons, and legal concessions that would favor their extremist operations.

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The Oyo State House of Assembly and Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration have taken a firm stance, rejecting any form of negotiation with the terrorists and instead calling for a robust military and police rescue operation to secure the release of the captives.

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A federal delegation comprising the Chief of Staff, the National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence has visited the state to coordinate rescue operations, in a bid to bring an end to the crisis.

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In a separate incident, kidnappers struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, abducting Mrs Olaide Busayo John-Paul and her twin sons as she was driving them to school in the Elewura area of Ibadan, with the abductors yet to establish contact with the family.

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Mrs John-Paul is a younger sister of the immediate past Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her abduction has raised concerns about the escalating insecurity in the region.

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The fact that the kidnappers are now targeting high-profile individuals, such as Adelabu’s younger sister, may indicate that the insecurity situation is reaching a boiling point, and it is possible that this could prompt a more decisive response from those in power.

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Historically, it has been observed that issues such as bad roads and lack of electricity only receive attention when they affect those in positions of power, and it is possible that the same dynamic may be at play in the current insecurity crisis.

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Perhaps when a governor’s convoy is attacked or a governor’s wife is kidnapped, the gravity of the situation will finally sink in, and those in power will take concrete steps to address the issue.

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The current state of affairs, where kidnappings and banditry continue to occur with impunity, suggests that the government and security agencies, as currently constituted, are struggling to cope with the menace.

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The typical response to such incidents, which involves press statements and vows to prevent future occurrences, has become all too familiar, and it is clear that a more effective approach is needed to tackle the problem.

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The presidency has made similar assurances in the past, such as after the Plateau killings, but the reality on the ground has not changed, and it is likely that many more lives have been lost since then.

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The country is facing numerous challenges, from inadequate water supply to poor electricity, and the absence of effective governance has forced citizens to fend for themselves, whether by drilling boreholes or using generators.

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Even the most basic aspects of governance, such as providing security, have broken down, leaving citizens to wonder what the purpose of having a government is in the first place.

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The education system, which is already in a state of disarray, is now being targeted by kidnappers, who are abducting schoolchildren and teachers, further highlighting the need for urgent action to address the insecurity crisis.

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It is possible that the politicians in Abuja and state capitals may finally take notice of the gravity of the situation and come up with durable solutions, but it is also likely that their focus on re-election and personal gain may take precedence over the need to address the insecurity problem.

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Kidnapping has become a lucrative industry, with many youths turning to it as a means of survival, and it is clear that the root causes of this problem, such as lack of employment and access to education, need to be addressed in order to find a lasting solution.

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A comprehensive approach, similar to the one adopted by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to address militancy, is needed to tackle the insecurity crisis, but it remains to be seen whether the current crop of politicians has the will and the capacity to implement such a solution.