Insecurity: Why FG must not relax on rescue feat

…Niger school girls, teachers still in captivity

… Growing ransom payment raises concerns

With the rescue of the 24 school girls in Maga, Kebbi State, nine days after their kidnap, and all the 38 worshippers at the Eruku Church in Kwara State, as well as two women abducted in Kano since July, among others, the fight against insecurity is taken a positive turn in recent times.

There have also been some laudable feats by the present administration in the fight, with President Bola Tinubu, likely going to go the extra mile in naming the financiers of terrorism in the country, according to Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Policy Communication.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved beyond talking about terrorism to tracing the money behind it,” Bwala said in an interview.

Again, many have applauded the federal government’s agreement with the United States of America to partner in tackling and ending terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the country, though with no details, while the recent approval of N100 billion for rehabilitation of training institutions for police and other security agencies is laudable.

But some observers said that it is not uhuru yet as terrorists are still on rampage. They pointed to the fact that apart from the 50, said to have escaped, about 253 students and 12 teachers kidnapped from St Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State, are still in their abductor’s custody, among others unheard of.

They are also worried over why the security agencies have not applied the same swiftness in the Kebbi and Kwara rescues to Niger, where parents are just hoping for a miracle.

Also, President Tinubu did not hide his excitement that all the Kebbi and Kwara abductees have been accounted for, but implementing his marching orders is what many are after.

Read also: Nigeria places hope in new defence minister, to lead counter terrorism fight

“Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping,” President Tinubu said over the rescue of the 24 Kebbi school girls.

With more boots on the ground now than before, parents of the abducted Niger students, families of the teachers, and many still in their abductors’ chains are earnestly waiting for results.

“The parents have no weapon to fight kidnappers or big money for ransom; they don’t even have anybody to speak for them and that is why the government has to do everything possible to rescue those students,” Agnes Onche, a retired director in the Ministry of Education and a school proprietress, said.

The Abuja-based educationist decried that innocent students have always been the target and tool for ransom negotiation by terrorists, hence she called on the need to put a stop to the growing menace.

“Yes, our president has given marching orders for more boots to be on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping, but sincerity at enforcing the order is what the parents and mothers like me, are calling for. Enough is enough because the poor and most vulnerable people are always the target,” she lamented.

She argued that if the children of the elites are in those schools, security would have been maximum. “I commend the government for the rescue so far, but they need to rescue others with the same swiftness in the Kebbi and Kwara incidents. Some of those students are very brilliant despite the deplorable states of their schools. We should not allow them to waste in the hands of those heartless fellows,” she urged.

John Hayab, a reverend and chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern States and Federal Capital Territory Abuja, insisted that the best that can happen to the parents and families of the Niger school girls and the teachers now is the rescue of their children.

While commending the rescue feats, he called for intensified efforts to ensure safe return of those still in kidnappers net to their families.

Hassan Kontagora, a corporate trainer and an education consultant, shared in the pains of the parents, saying that the kidnapping has added to the burden of the poor parents who struggle against all odds to send their children to school.

“Where I am from, I have relatives who don’t believe in the girl-child education and prefer giving out their teenage daughters in marriage. So, the growing target of girls by kidnappers is a big blow to girl-child education in northern Nigeria and a boost to the already alarming rate of out-of-school children in the region,” he noted.

According to him, the government should not just rescue, but put an end to kidnapping to give parents confidence to send their girls to school and for the girls to embrace education without fear.

Speaking from a security perspective, Bem Hembafan, a security expert, urged security agencies to continue with their recent rescue strategy, which he noted, has resulted in laudable feats.

“I love the swiftness with which our men rescued the Kebbi school girls and even the Kwara worshippers. It is working, they should improve on it, work against it being sabotaged and use the same to rescue the Niger students. They have proven that we can win this war against terrorism, all they need now is encouragement, incentives, training to boost their morale to win more for Nigeria,” he said.

But he is also worried over the growing ransom being paid to kidnappers even by the government.

“I know the government often denies paying ransom to rescue abductees, but the amount being demanded by kidnappers is worrisome. How can hoodlums ask for N2 billion as ransom in anticipation that they will finally settle for N1billon after negotiations,” he observed.

His worry is over who the negotiators are, how such huge amounts are paid through banks, why the banks cannot track the account owners or stop the transactions in their usual bracing manner.

“I think the government should not spare anyone or institution found couplable in ransom deals. The president threatened to name financiers of terrorism in the country, good, but naming, prosecuting and confiscating their ill-gotten wealth are what will stop their thriving nefarious activities,” he concluded.

Kalu Irem, a forensic expert, noted that the anti-craft agency should also beam searchlights on banks, telecoms, suspected personnel of security agencies and other collaborators in the now thriving kidnap business.

“Those who want quick wealth do not need to carry cocaine or illicit drugs again. Yahoo cannot even pay like kidnapping. This is why many, even organised groups are in the kidnapping business. For me, it is a lucrative business, which the government needs to fight with all its power and resources. We don’t need to make separate laws for kidnappers, shoot at sight, kill those caught, no amnesty because they have killed many for their selfish interest,” Irem said.

As Christmas approaches, many also think that rescuing the Niger students, their teachers and others still in captivity would be a cherished gift to the parents and families of the victims.

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