In a bid to tackle the escalating kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, the Federal Government has introduced a toll-free emergency hotline, 112, for citizens to report abductions and other security issues.
The initiative was unveiled by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and it aims to avert the rising tide of ransom-driven kidnappings that have affected the nation.
It was announced by Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, during a recent press briefing in Abuja. Laka emphasized the importance of public participation in tackling the kidnapping problem and urged Nigerians to utilize the hotline to report suspicious activities and crimes.
He said: “The Nigerian Communications Commission has facilitated the emergency response number, 112. The NCTC calls on all Nigerians to report suspicious activities, crimes, and kidnappings by calling the toll-free number 112, including the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell’s designated numbers that will be provided to the public.”
He stated that kidnapping for ransom remains a significant challenge that requires collective and innovative efforts from every stakeholder.
Though Nigeria recorded a 16.3% drop in kidnapping incidents in 2024 compared to 2023, the number of victims witnessed a slight increase of 0.27%. The North-West region, especially Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara states, recorded the highest prevalence, with 13.8% of total incidents and 61.1% of victims nationwide.
Laka explained that different criminal groups, including bandits, terrorists, cultists, militants, and secessionist factions, keep exploiting kidnapping for financial gain and to fund illicit activities.
He said: “Trends in 2024 showed that kidnappings occurred in both rural and urban areas, targeting villages, schools, highways, and residential areas.”
The non-stop abductions have led to many deserted agrarian communities, disrupted food production, and contributed to increasing food prices. Laka remarked that the continued payment of ransoms has further enabled the crime, as perpetrators exploit families’ fears to demand exorbitant sums.
To tackle the menace, the government has implemented kinetic and non-kinetic measures, achieving great results, including the rescue of hostages, neutralization and arrest of kidnapping kingpins, and the destruction of kidnappers’ hideouts.
Looking ahead to 2025, Laka outlined plans to fortify and expand counter-kidnapping initiatives across all six geo-political zones.
He said: “The government projects that kidnapping for ransom will persist in 2025 due to its financial incentives. To counter this, authorities aim to strengthen counter-kidnapping initiatives, expand efforts to all six geo-political regions, improve collaboration with the 36 state governments, reinforce public confidence in government protection to discourage ransom payments, and engage state governments to address unemployment and economic vulnerabilities that drive individuals to crime.”
The launch of the 112 emergency hotline is a critical step in government’s efforts to enhance public safety and tackle the kidnapping epidemic. However, the success of this initiative is dependent on the active participation of citizens and the sustained commitment of all stakeholders to tackle the root causes of the crisis.
As Nigeria battles this persistent threat, it is hoped that the new measures will offer relief to affected communities and being back sense of security across the nation.
