Security
A Defence and Security expert, Dr Steve Okwori, says while ransom payments may secure the immediate release of kidnapped victims, it ultimately strengthen criminal networks and worsen Nigeria’s security challenges.
Okwori said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking on the implications of negotiations and ransom payments to kidnappers.
He said that ransom payments provided criminal groups, terrorists and kidnappers with financial resources to acquire more weapons, improve logistics and recruit additional members.
He noted that the practice had become a major source of funding for criminal organisations, enabling them to expand their operations and prolong insecurity across the country.
“While families may secure the immediate release of victims and save lives in the short term, the long-term implications for national security are largely negative.
“Ransom payments strengthen the operational capacity of criminal groups and prolong the insecurity government is trying to address,” he said.
The security expert also noted that in spite of legal provisions criminalising ransom payments, families often found themselves compelled to negotiate with kidnappers due to concerns for the safety of their loved ones.
According to him, the emotional trauma inflicted on victims and their families makes it difficult for many people to ignore ransom demands.
He added that the huge sums paid as ransom over the years had reinforced the belief among kidnappers that individuals and communities were willing to pay for the release of abducted persons.
On measures to curb kidnapping, Okwori urged government to strengthen security presence in rural and semi-rural communities where most abductions occur.
He said criminal groups often exploited the absence of security personnel in remote communities to carry out attacks and move victims to hideouts.
He advocated the establishment of state police and effective deployment of the proposed National Forest Guard to enhance security coverage in vulnerable areas.
According to him, personnel recruited from local communities are better positioned to understand the terrain and identify suspicious activities.
Okwori also stressed the need for community policing, saying security agencies must maintain close interaction with residents, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to improve intelligence gathering.
He called for the establishment of rapid response mechanisms to ensure timely intervention whenever kidnapping incidents occured.
”Delayed responses often give kidnappers enough time to move victims to locations that are difficult for security forces to access,” he said.
Speaking on the role of technology, the expert said that Nigeria must invest more in surveillance systems, drones and other technological tools to strengthen intelligence gathering and security operations.
He said technology remained indispensable in modern security management and could significantly improve the ability of security agencies to track and disrupt criminal activities.
Okwori also called for greater political commitment and accountability in the management of security resources, noting that corruption remained a major obstacle to the fight against insecurity.
He urged government and security agencies to work together to address the root causes of insecurity and deny criminal groups the resources needed to sustain their operations.
(NAN)
W.U
June 9, 2026
Tags: Dr Steve Okwori