Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria should go beyond rescuing kidnapping victims and target the financial networks that fund criminal groups, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said on Friday, citing a report that recorded thousands of abductions and billions of naira in ransom payments over the past year, Prime Business Africa reports.
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The rights group was responding to a report by SBM Intelligence which said 7,825 people were abducted in 1,713 kidnapping and related incidents between July 2025 and June 2026. It also recorded 1,142 deaths and about 7.8 billion naira in ransom payments during the period.
HURIWA said the figures underscored the scale of what it described as an increasingly organised criminal economy, in which kidnapping generates funds for weapons, recruitment and the expansion of criminal networks.
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In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group called for stronger financial intelligence operations to trace ransom payments, identify intermediaries and financiers, freeze illicit proceeds where legally permitted and use financial evidence to prosecute members of kidnapping syndicates.
HURIWA said security agencies should also target the communications and logistical networks that enable criminal groups to coordinate attacks and negotiate ransom payments.
It urged the federal and state governments to invest in drones, satellite surveillance, digital forensics, communications intelligence and other technologies to identify criminal hideouts, track movements and develop intelligence capable of preventing attacks.
The group also called for closer coordination among the military, police, Department of State Services, financial intelligence agencies and other security institutions.
HURIWA said intelligence gathering must move beyond the collection of information to the timely sharing and analysis of intelligence that can support preventive operations.
It urged the National Security Adviser to establish stronger real-time coordination between security and financial intelligence agencies, allowing authorities to identify and disrupt entire criminal networks rather than focusing only on individual perpetrators.
The association also called for stronger protection of schools, rural communities and vulnerable transport corridors, including the deployment of rapid-response units, expanded community-based intelligence networks, greater protection for whistle-blowers and sustained surveillance of kidnapping hotspots.
It said forest guards should be properly recruited, trained and equipped and operate within a clear legal framework alongside conventional security agencies.
HURIWA said denying kidnappers access to forests and other hideouts would be critical to disrupting their operations.
The group also called for tighter safeguards around the rehabilitation and reintegration of former terrorists, saying people convicted of serious terrorism offences should not be reintegrated into communities without rigorous judicial, security and intelligence assessments.
It said rehabilitation programmes should not compromise public safety or provide opportunities for people involved in violent extremism to return to criminal activity.
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On the legal framework, HURIWA urged the National Assembly to strengthen laws covering kidnapping and terrorism while preserving fair-trial guarantees, due process and the constitutional right of appeal.
It also called for the lawful enforcement of capital sentences imposed by competent courts after due process and the exhaustion of all applicable appeals, arguing that certainty of punishment should complement intelligence-led policing and effective prosecution.
HURIWA said the reported 7.8 billion naira in ransom payments showed that kidnapping had evolved beyond a conventional security challenge into an organised criminal economy requiring a coordinated financial, intelligence and law-enforcement response.
The association urged federal and state authorities to establish measurable targets for reducing abductions, disrupting ransom flows, dismantling criminal networks, rescuing victims and prosecuting those who finance or facilitate kidnapping.
It said Nigeria’s strategy should shift from responding to attacks after victims have been taken to preventing kidnappings, breaking the networks behind them and making the crime financially unsustainable.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
