NIGERIANS URGED TO PREPARE KIDNAP CONTINGENCY PLANS

Nigerian government ministries, departments and agencies, corporate organizations, traditional rulers and high net worth individuals have been advised to develop contingency planning protocols in order to successfully manage kidnap for ransom incidents.  

 “Kidnap cases will continue to increase in frequency and kidnap gangs will continue to target top Nigerians and their family members because of the high profits and low risks of the kidnap crime”.

Speaking during the ASIS African Security Conference held in Lagos last week, the renowned security consultant, Dr. Ona Ekhomu said that Kidnap for ransom was driven by several factors including perceived survival needs of the kidnappers, extreme poverty, get rich quick mentality, corruption, proliferation of small and light weapons, moral challenges, and impunity.

Ekhomu, President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) in his paper titled The Theory & Practice of Managing Kidnap Incidents described Kidnap as one of the “foulest crimes on earth”.  He said unfortunately, kidnapping for ransom has been around for a long time.

Ekhomu said that when a relation or colleague is kidnapped the initial reactions include disbelief, shock, horror and helplessness “Not knowing what is happening to the victim – whether they are dead or alive, how they are being treated aggravate the anxiety”.

Ekhomu said that the Kidnap incident plan should clearly spell; out what actions must be taken during an incident. 

The contingency plan should state who should be called when an incident is report, where to set up incident command and control center, availability of good phone equipment with recording abilities, trained negotiator, reporting to the authorities, etc. 

Ekhomu warned that under no circumstance should a family or an employer keep a kidnap incident secret from the authorities. He advised Nigerians to call the bluff of kidnappers who usually claim to know local law enforcement personnel. 

Said he: “kidnappers want you to be quiet about their crime. If you report to law enforcement, then there is a chance that they may be arrested or killed. But if you are silent about your ordeal, then the kidnappers would certainly have a good pay day on you, and escape with their loot.”

Ekhomu condemned the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2011 as a weak and bad piece of legislation that is incapable of deterring profit kidnap.   

He said that the punishment prescribed for kidnapping by the ATA was too lenient that prosecutors often use other statutes such as the EFCC act to prosecute kidnappers in order to get longer jail terms.