This is even as Nigerians pray and hope
for proactive security measures in checking and tightening the noose on some of
these horrifying crimes.
Nigeria was confronted with incessant
and embarrassing episodes of kidnapping, herdsmen killings, marauding Badoo
ritual killing group in Lagos State and other violent crimes. And another ever
present monster, Boko Haram, is still there; refusing to be completely
conquered.
Kidnapping, like a hydra headed monster,
has become one of the most challenging security issues bedevilling the Nigerian
society and giving security agencies sleepless nights.
No matter what the agencies have done to
curb kidnapping, this challenge appears to have simply defied solution.
Kidnapping is a crime that resonates in all the states of the federation,
causing acute indigestion for governors.
Last year, hundreds, if not thousands of
kidnappings occurred, cutting across social strata. A few were reported and
recorded, many more were not reported and were handled by families that quietly
paid ransom, rather than involve security agents.
Indeed, May 27, 2017 will forever remain
engraved in the minds of most Nigerians. This was the day one of the most
shocking abductions of 2017 happened.
Like a scene straight out of a movie,
militant kidnappers, in commando style, breached the security of the Lagos
State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, and abducted six students.
These militants had earlier on October
6, 2016 abducted four students, the vice principal and Head Teacher. They were
held captive for six days before they were released after payment of ransom.
The kidnappers were believed to have
laid siege to the school because it was a Lagos State government-owned school.
This belief was based on the role the Lagos State government played after the same
gang of kidnappers, led by a militant identified as General America, stormed
the Turkish International School, at Isheri, Ogun State and abducted eight
people in January 2017.
The victims were three students, three
female supervisors, one female cook and a female Turkish teacher.
A huge sum of ransom was alleged to have
been paid to America and his gang before they freed the victims. Part of those
who raised the money was the Lagos State government. America and his men were
stunned by the amount and strongly felt that to re-enact similar drama at the
Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, would see them laughing all the way to the
bank again.
After they stormed the Lagos State Model
College, Igbonla and abducted the six victims, they contacted the victims’
parents, explaining that they shouldn’t worry, that they were not the ones that
would pay the ransom.
The bandits were, however, shocked, when
government refused to play ball. Government sensed that giving to another
ransom demand, invariably means, expecting abductions in the near future.
Thus the kidnappers and government
engaged in a hide and seek game. And because of this game, the students, Peter
Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq
Yusuf, spent at least 64 days in the den of the kidnappers, with many worried
that they might have been killed.
The students were finally released and
handed over to the Ondo State government, after their parents had paid ransom
several times. It is also believed that government assisted in payment of the
ransom.
Last year also witnessed the arrest,
escape and eventual murder of notorious kidnapper, Henry Chibueze, also known
as Vampire.
Before he was gunned down, Vampire had
abducted over 200 victims for ransom. He had also killed several.
One of those he killed was his lover,
Sandra Ijedinma, residing at Igando area of Lagos State. Vampire, on February
16, 2013, stormed Sandra’s home armed with AK47 rifle. He opened fire on
everyone present in the apartment.
He succeeded in killing his girlfriend,
her elder sister, Praise Ozor, and her two children. Vampire proceeded to a
nearby street where one of Sandra’s elder sisters resided and killed the woman
and three of her children, before fleeing.
Worried by his activities and reckless killings,
a bounty of N5 million was offered by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha,
for information that could lead to his arrest. He was first arrested by men of
Department of State Services (DSS) in 2015 when he attempted to kidnap some
judges attached to the Imo State Electoral Tribunal.
Vampire escaped on January 27, 2017,
when some of his gang members stormed the Owerri High Court in Imo State and
rescued him. The gang killed two persons, while many others sustained bullet
wounds.
He was later trailed and killed in Port
Harcourt by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Special
Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The 30-year-old kidnapper was trailed to his
hideout in Omu-Awa forest in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Perhaps, the most resounding event in
2017 was the arrest of Chukwudidumeme Onuamadike, 36, aka Evans. He was
arrested by operatives of IRT and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) and
described as one of the deadliest, craftiest and richest kidnappers in Nigeria.
Evans was arrested after police hunted
him for seven months. He was arrested on Saturday about 1p.m. at his Magodo Estate mansion, Lagos State. He was one of
the kidnappers who had been terrorising Festac axis and its environs for years,
forcing billionaires and million businessmen to relocate from the area. He is
also only the kidnapper that used to demand that ransom be paid in US dollars.
According to police, Evans acquired his
billions and property scattered across Nigeria through kidnapping. Before his
arrest, a N30 million bounty had been placed on him by the IG.
In fact, after Evans’ arrest, kidnapping
drastically reduced in Lagos. His arrest was a strong signal to other less
brave kidnappers.
In December, Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State chapter, Damishi Sango, was abducted on
his way to Abuja for the party’s national convention. Sango, a former Minister of
Sports, reportedly left Jos around 2p.m. and was
kidnapped on Jere-Abuja-Kaduna Road. He was later released after allegedly
parting with millions of ransom.
While Lagos State was witnessing
reduction in kidnaping, Abuja-Kaduna witnessed an unprecedented upsurge which
forced the IGP to allege that policemen might be working with some of the
kidnappers in Kaduna. He had to transfer and post his senior officers, while
also deploying specially trained squads to check the influx. The squads had
registered admirable successes, but the kidnapping is still going on. Right
now, another approach is needed to confront these kidnappers. Also, security
agencies should begin to understand the importance of profiling suspects and
having a database for such suspects.
These methods invariably aid in
investigation and arrest. Another way to curtail kidnapping in Nigeria is for
the judiciary to begin treating cases of kidnapping with the utmost
seriousness.
Many states have passed death penalty
law on kidnapping, but how many suspects have been convicted and sentenced? A
conviction and sentence will send stronger signal to other kidnappers.
The year 2017 witnessed many Nigerians
weeping bitterly as death toll continued to rise in Benue and Adamawa states,
as herdsmen carried out midnight raids and murder on
hapless citizens, especially women and children. Over time, the killings have
become senseless and nebulous, defying logic.
Nigerians, because of the killings, have
accused of Present Muhammadu Buhari of being weak and ethic biased. Many
claimed he was too weak and old to decisively arrest the escalating murder of
women and children by herdsmen. Others alleged that he deliberately refused to
take action against the herdsmen because they are Hausa speaking lots and Muslims
like him.
But as the accusations and
counter-accusations continue, herdsmen continue to terrorise different states,
wilfully carrying out murders. The herdsmen modus operandi is often to attack a
sleeping community at night by setting the buildings on fire.
As the petrified occupants run out, the
herdsmen start shooting and inflicting machete cuts. Thousands of Nigerians,
including women and children have been slain this way.
One of the challenges facing security
agencies is the sad, but tragic realisation that these herdsmen do not cohabit
in a particular environs, thus, arresting or launching attack is a bit dicey.
It should, however, be noted, that the Federal Government holds all the aces
because of its might. The best security experts in Nigeria should come together
to brain storm on how to check these killings.
The year witnessed a paralyzing panic
spreading through Lagos State as Badoo ritual killing group spread its deadly
tentacles, sending shivers down the spines of even the bravest.
The Badoo groups are believed to be
ritual killers. It is also believed that the ritual killings are carried out to
catapult the killer into sudden wealth.
The groups mainly operate in Ikorodu,
but as of last year, have moved closer to Mile 12 and Ketu. One of their modus
operandi is to attack and wipe out a whole family. They are reputed to be
mostly men, who, before they operate, would bathe with engine oil. They are
also alleged to have a signature tool of grinding stone and white handkerchief.
They have been known to rip out babies
from wombs of pregnant women. Most often than not, they rape their female
victims. Female survivors claimed that after raping them, the Badoo members
would use white handkerchiefs to wipe clean their private parts.
These handkerchiefs are carefully kept.
They are also known for smashing heads of their victims with the grinding
stone.
They target families that live in
isolated areas and also seem to have a particular fondness for infiltrating
churches to attack people. Traditional leaders and their cohorts have been
accused of being the hidden faces of Badoo groups.
Badoo killings have been on for years,
but in 2017, the situation snowballed as the killings became too many.
Residents took matter into their hands, forming local vigilante groups. These
vigilante groups embarked on jungle justice, carrying out many senseless
killings until the Lagos State government stepped in and stopped the killings.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, perturbed,
paid a visit to Ikorodu, where he addressed traditional leaders and members of
the communities. He urged them to work with security agents so that the Badoo
group could be stopped.
A Joint Task Force, comprising police,
soldiers, traditional leaders and Oodua Peoples Congress was created. The year
also ushered into the Lagos State Police Command, a new commissioner of police,
Mr Imohimi Edgal.
According to security experts, Edgal was
specifically brought in to stem the escalating tide of the Badoo group
activities. Immediately he ascended the throne, Edgal embarked on destruction
of some shrines, believed to be some of the operational centres of Badoo.
Although the activities of Badoo appeared to have died down, pockets of
killings are still being reported. But police have always denied that those
killings were related to Badoo group.
It is worthy to note that nobody has
ever been arrested on suspicion of being a Badoo member and has confessed to
such. This means that police still need to be at alert and stop gloating on any
supposed success. If possible, paid informants should be planted in most
Ikorodu communities.
All the security agencies need is a
breakthrough; just one sure suspect and the rest would crumpled like pack of
cards. It’s doubtful if they have made that sure arrest.
Speaking on security during his 2018 New
Year speech, Buhari said: “Terrorism and urban crimes are world-wide phenomena
and our security forces are continuously adapting their responses to changing
threats. With regard to rampant cases of kidnappings, we are taking immediate
short-term measures to combat this new evil creeping into our
societies. Tighter police methods and swift and severe punishment for
those proved to be engaged in kidnapping are on the way.”
The Head, National Publicity Bureau,
Nigeria Intervention Movement Secretariat, Mallam Naseer Kura, reacting to the
President’s speech, noted: “On security, outside the devastating and
destabilising effect of Boko Haram, the rampaging forays of the deadly armed
herdsmen is threatening national peace, cohesion, unity as well as food
security. We are therefore at a complete loss as to why the President speech is
so audibly silent on such a national menace, keeping the nation on edge. The
President speech only cursorily mentioned Boko Haram as being beaten without
telling the nation why he urgently requires one $1 billion of our common
patrimony to engage an already beaten terrorist group. The President’s speech
which only acknowledges the debilitating fear and effect of the increasing
foray of kidnappings being experienced in the country, was, however, low on
strategic steps of tackling this malady beyond the platitudes.”
An Assistant Commissioner of Police
(ACP), Monday Agbonika, stating reason for reduction in
kidnapping in Lagos, said: “It’s because of Edgal’s approach to issues of
security. There is high police visibility; the highest in the country.
Policemen are positioned strategically, 24/7, with revolving lights. Also,
another approach working out well is communities’ involvement in security,
safety, crime prevention, and planning.”
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP),
who refused to be mentioned, takes a look at the surge in kidnapping in
Abuja-Kaduna.
He said: “The actors in Lagos and Kaduna
are different. The latter, who are largely illiterates, thrive on their
environment and guerrilla attack strategy with snatch and run antics, while the
former are educated and brutal. Their success is a product of intelligence
gathering and safe homes in the urban areas. They are usually a smaller group
compared to the Kaduna bandits. Once a major actor is brought down or caught,
the area will take a semblance of calm until another group emerges. The Kaduna
groups are numerous with changing roles and no particular leader.”
A security analyst, Mr Atta Folorusho, said:
“I think the activities herdsmen in Nigeria have given impetus to other violent
crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery in the northern part of Nigeria.
During pre-colonial and post-colonial era, kidnapping and armed robbery were
anathema to the people of the North. But a dangerous precedent has, in the past
one year, set in. Kidnappers are on the prowl in some parts of the region,
mostly Kaduna State. The Kaduna-Abuja Road had been taken over by kidnappers
armed with AK47 rifles, pump action guns and revolver pistols. Its either these
terrorists are herdsmen or got their arms and ammunition from the same
people. I believe that whilst security agents beamed their searchlight on Lagos
at behest of other states, criminals might have taken an advantage of this.
Even as the police are on top of the situation in Kaduna State, what measures
have they taken in other states to ensure that what is happening in Kaduna
State does not dovetail to these states?
“Let me say fighting violent crimes with
corrupt security agents, who threw away discipline culture to the wind, can
never make government’s efforts succeed in eradicating violent crimes from the
country. There has to be sanity, commitments, dedication and love of the
country by security agents so as to make 2018 and beyond safer for Nigerians
and foreigners, than what has been on ground in this past 10 to 15 years.
“The government should appoint credible
officers to lead various security agencies. Security agents, small or big in
ranks that are not performing should be asked to go. Our security agents
must imbibe the maintenance culture. Most largesse by various governments and
individuals to security agents over the years, were either misused or not
properly handled by those responsible for these. It is out of place to put the
blame at the door step of the government for not providing necessary for
security agents. What happened to the 774 Jeeps provided by the 774 local
government areas to the police during the administration of Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo? Within 30 months, all of the vehicles went
into extinction. How about the over 3000 jaguar power bikes also given by same
administration? Several of such bikes were stolen by security agents.”
The National Coordinator of the Network
on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, reacting to
surge in Kaduna State kidnapping and reduction in Lagos, said: “It’s because
the two states are pursuing two diametrically opposed socioeconomic and
political policies which, of necessity, impact differently on the citizens
and residents of the two states and predispose them to different behaviours
corresponding to their respective social experience.
“Kaduna State governor is pursuing
policies of mass impoverishment and emasculation; policies that deprive citizens
of their legitimate means of livelihood and put pressure on them, leaving them
with little or no option than to resort to any means to survive. Crimes like
kidnapping becomes the option in a state where millions of workers are sacked
in one swell swoop, without the slightest compunction. Furthermore, I
understand that the problems faced by cattle rustlers contribute to the
spike in crime in Kaduna State. Some of these young people spend one year
or more rearing cattle for the big men only to be settled with two to three
years old cattle. When they see that they can earn more income through
kidnapping, they resort to it.
“Again, the lingering herdsmen-farmers’
clashes in Southern Kaduna and Southern Zaria have made light arms readily
available for these jobless youths. There is proliferation of light arms in
that troubled part of the state. Clearly, the Kaduna State governor
has not shown commitment to pursuing pro-poor policies that ensure equal
opportunities for all citizens. On the contrary, Lagos State
government and the Lagos State Police under the current CP share a common
commitment to safety and security and have consistently adopted deliberate
measures to prevent and combat crime. Lagos State has the additional advantage
of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund which provides assistance and
operational lifeline to the police to effectively tackle and deter crime.
Kaduna State, and indeed, other states, should take a cue from Lagos
State.”
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