Thus we share this piece in oder to get your response and for us to ponder with the hope of finding lasting solution to the menace of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria, the vital questions to ask were, are our security agencies complicit or do they lack the necessary gadgets or both?
As we approach the 2023 general elections these and many more are vital questions any incoming government need to seek answers to as this will lead to a permanent solution to the menace thus reducing same to the bearest minimum.
The statement in full.
"Based on my job, I learnt something special this week from Security Agents in Mali that we went on a rescue mission together. I don't know if the Nigerian Security Agencies are in collaboration with kidnappers to take ransom and share together, if not no kidnapper can succeed in taking any ransom where security formation is effective.
The story is that, I received a message from Nigeria concerning a 16 year old girl that was trafficked to Mali for sex trade. This victim called her parents about the situation and they passed the message to me from government agency for an urgent rescue.
When I called the number that the victim used to call her parents and I asked the traffickers to send the victim to me so that she can go back to Nigeria, they refused. Later they remove the line from their phone, now the number is out of use. I now informed a security agent about the situation because what is important is to rescue the 16 years old girl from sexual exploitation.
Now, the number I used to contact the traffickers is no more in use. I don't know the name of the village the victim is. I sent the number that they have removed and brake to the security agent. After two hours, they notify me the name of the village and the current new number the traffickers are using. We went on a mission without calling the new number. We arrived at the village in the midnight because it was about 15 hours journey. The second day, Information reach us the exact location the phone number was last used before they switched off the phone. After an hour, information came again that the person is having appointment with somebody by 11:00am. We hang around the place. When the person came around, there was a vibration from one of their security gadget to know the person coming with the number. We monitor her entry to the house. We were able to rescue the victim on 20/12/22. No call. Nothing.
So ransom collection in Nigeria could be between the kidnappers and security agencies. If not, no Nigerian should pay ransom to any kidnapper if really our policemen have the necessary security gadgets.
This is just a trafficking issue and not that some criminals will hide somewhere and calling people twice to pay ransom. You cannot call three times before being caught in Mali.
That is the reason I said, Nigerian Security Agents could be in collaboration with the kidnappers to take ransom from people. "
P. Michael.
Global Anti Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO). MALI.