PlightTalk News | Insecurity & Governance
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, questioning what it described as the emergence of a “ransom economy” driven by the alarming rate of kidnappings and violent crimes under the current administration.
In a statement reacting to the growing wave of abductions and ransom demands across different parts of the country, the organisation lamented that kidnapping has increasingly become a thriving criminal enterprise, leaving many Nigerians living in fear and uncertainty.
Ohanaeze noted that the frequency of kidnappings, attacks on communities, and the increasing financial burden placed on victims and their families have created a dangerous situation where criminality appears to be flourishing despite repeated assurances from government authorities.
The group questioned whether Nigeria was gradually normalising a system where citizens must constantly budget for ransom payments in order to secure the safety of their loved ones.
Growing Concerns Over National Security
The organisation argued that insecurity has continued to affect economic activities, social stability, and public confidence in government institutions.
According to Ohanaeze, many communities across the country have experienced repeated attacks by armed groups, kidnappers, and criminal networks, with residents often forced to rely on self-help measures due to concerns over inadequate security responses.
The group stressed that the increasing number of kidnapping incidents reflects a broader national security crisis that requires urgent and decisive action.
Recent reports and security assessments have also highlighted the scale of the challenge, with experts warning about the growing economic and social consequences of kidnapping-for-ransom activities across Nigeria.
Call For Release Of Nnamdi Kanu
Ohanaeze further renewed its demand for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that his continued detention has remained a source of political tension and controversy.
The organisation maintained that addressing longstanding political grievances through dialogue and lawful democratic engagement would contribute to efforts aimed at promoting stability and reducing tensions in parts of the country.
According to the group, national unity and peace can only be achieved through justice, inclusiveness, and meaningful engagement with aggrieved communities.
The group called on the Federal Government to take stronger measures against kidnapping syndicates, armed criminal groups, and other security threats affecting citizens nationwide.
It also urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, improve community-based security strategies, and ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice.
The statement comes amid growing public concern over recurring reports of abductions, ransom payments, and deadly attacks in several states, with many Nigerians calling for more effective solutions to the country’s worsening security challenges.
As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, observers say the challenge remains one of the most pressing issues confronting Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
