Of Scammers & Kidnappers

Of Scammers & Kidnappers
By Sam Onimisi

The new industry in Nigeria is kidnapping, coming at the heels of scamming, popularly known as 419. Nothing is new really under the sun. They only come and go only to return in an endless circle. Back in 1973, kidnapping reared its ugly head in Kaduna when mob action was the judgment, without proof. There was an attempted kidnap of a child and the suspected culprit was given an instant judgment - by lynching. Unfortunately, the assumed kidnapper had some tribal marks - the typical Ogbomosho Yoruba marks and the ubiquitous mob, made up of street urchins and the almajirai, in their queer wisdom assumed that everyone with such facial marks are kidnappers. My God! It became dangerous for people with such marks to walk the streets in broad day light. Cases of mob action were on the rise and victims hardly obtain justice, until the security agencies stepped in to the arrest the mayhem. That was then.
Now, kidnappers are no longer identified by tribal marks, as they too have grown sophisticated with the aid of modern technology; cell phones, laptops and internet connectivity has made all manners of crime difficult to prevent, detect and curtailed. Rather than pinpointing the kidnapper, one will be flabbergasted if kidnapping kingpins are paraded for identification. You could swear by your local deity that the accused could never have been a kidnapper! However, here he is! The army of retired public officers whose pension could not sustain and whose throat had been widened by filthy lucre while in office might account for the mysterious godfathers behind kidnapping. I do not mean any harm by this insinuation as all of them could not be guilty. However, who could be the brain box of the rough boys of sophisticated kidnapping? Don’t tell me it is the proverbial witch doctors. They may be accessories to the crime, yes. You cannot convince me that the gunmen are the sole brains behind kidnapping. Who supplied them with the guns? Who shields them from arrest and how do they out-smart the police? Which of the security arms is principally responsible for the prevention of such crimes?
The drug barons defeated the police, which necessitated the creation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to combat, but how much have they succeeded? Scammers now have the EFCC to contend with, but have these dissuaded criminals from 419? If there are no technocrats who knows the inner workings of the security agencies and have some influence over the law enforcers, how come that all crimes are escalating and criminals waxing stronger every day?
The struggle of the people of Niger Delta for fiscal federalism or resource control forced them to recourse to kidnapping key oil workers, especially expatriate staff to draw attention to their demand and, for some ransom to keep the struggle of afloat. This was before criminal elements infiltrated into their ranks and made a mess of the noble goal of attaining true federalism. Now, in the South East, the youths appear to have invested a huge capital of their ingenuity into the business of abduction of notable and rich individuals or members of their family for some handsome ransom. Their success in this resurgent enterprise of economic terrorism is attested to by the failure of the police to curb their murderous exploits. There is a general belief that the Police is an accomplice in this despicable business venture. How true this is can only be left to the imagination as the history and record of accomplishment of the Nigeria Police leaves much to be desired. The Army had to be deployed to the South East to subdue the Hordes of kidnappers, although the police had always claims to be “on top of the situation.” If they are, why do the criminals easily subdue them? On the other hand, is it a case of internal subversion?
The emerging picture suggests that kidnapping is a criminal occupation with various motives, even if extortion and ransom demand is the outcome. While the cause and reason for the practice in the South South has been explained, the reason for it in the South East is mainly mercantile. In the North, kidnapping is not a favourite crime, as they have no motive for making profit out of human captivity. They would rather waste the soul to appease some gods than hold them hostage. In Central Nigeria, a few copycats tried their hands at kidnapping for profits and found that the gains are far below the risks to their lives. We must therefore find out why kidnapping is an attractive business, and why a section of the country holds tenaciously to it, and why the police appear helpless in combating the menace.
How can we be of help to ourselves and the police in this war against kidnapping? First, we must shorn ourselves from adorning our bodies with excessive and expensive gold, silver and bronze bangles, chains and neck-lace. When you are be-decked to the extent of looking live a masquerade, you are begging to be kidnapped, and creating opportunity for kidnappers. Let us be moderate in our dress code. Second, those who spray themselves with expensive perfumes are beckoning on kidnappers for a kiss. If you are not rich, you would not be able to afford such perfumes, and if you can afford to buy them, you are likely to be invited to ‘donate’ to the have-nots through kidnappers. Car freaks whose children parades the street with the latest Japanese and American Limousine are open invitation to kidnappers. Do you need all of this cars and must you go on parade to flaunt your dubious wealth to the envy of potential kidnappers?
Many wealthy Nigerians who could afford the hiring of escorts are already doing so, except that there is a limit to what escorts can do in terms of safety and exposure. Chief Bola Ige had several police armed escorts but was killed by unknown gunmen and ten years after, we are still guessing who could have killed hm. Even the police that promised to turn all stones have left none unturned, and the killers are still at large-laughing at all of us. So, where is the security in armed escorts? If weapon training is a part of the training of official security operatives, how come that un-official gunmen are so dexterous in handling various rifles? On the other hand, is there an open training school for whoever wants to know how to shoot the gun? What happened to the restriction placed on the purchase and ownership of guns and weapons? Who enforces such restrictions?
At the risk of boring you with questions and advertising my naivety, I may only conclude that we have all compromised our physical security, not only by our attitude to personal safety but also by our low moral values and poor choices made in the past. If we voluntarily export our female teenagers abroad for prostitution, then those behind it and who have accumulated wealth through it must pay tax to the kidnappers. By collective compromise, we have handed over our individual liberty and community peace to accursed kidnappers. Oh hoo!