Experts differ as NSA partners UK anti-crime agency to battle kidnappers
The 22 students and staff members of the Federal University of Gusau, Zamfara State, who were kidnapped by bandits on September 22, 2023, were rescued in an operation coordinated by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre on April 15, 2024.
Also, on July 4, 2024, 16 individuals kidnapped from Zurmi, Duran and Gusau in Zamfara State on April 22, 2024, were also rescued in a joint operation coordinated by the NCTC. They were subsequently handed over to the Zamfara State Government.
The Office of the NSA was reported to have also planned and coordinated the operation that led to the rescue of the three children of a Kaduna judge, who were abducted alongside her, on July 10, 2024.
Also, on March 23, 2023, the Army, in collaboration with the ONSA, rescued 17 Tsangaya pupils who had been abducted by bandits in Gada Local Government.
While receiving the 22 students and staff members of the university, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said over 1,000 such victims had been rescued without paying a ransom.
However, speaking with our correspondent on strategies to strengthen the fight against kidnapping, the NCTC, Office of the NSA, disclosed the plan to establish an Anti-Kidnapping Fusion Cell for effective tracking and arrest of kidnap suspects in the country.
The NCTC also noted that it was working in collaboration with the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom to implement the initiative.
The Head of Strategic Communication, NCTC, Abu Michael, while speaking with our correspondent, said the initiative would also ensure a proactive approach towards rescuing victims, adding that all security and law enforcement agencies were expected to be part of the new strategy.
He said, “The Anti-Kidnapping Fusion Cell is for effective tracking and arrest of kidnap suspects, and to be proactive.
“It is a multi-agency taskforce involving all the security and enforcement agencies under the coordination of NCTC-ONSA. The fusion cell is in the process of becoming fully operational. NCTC is working in collaboration with the NCA of the UK on this.”
But, some experts who spoke with our correspondent on Saturday disagreed with the NSA’s initiative and its approach to tackling the menace of kidnapping.
