By Bola Babarinde, Former Chairman, APC South Africa Chapter
Terrorism and banditry in Nigeria have evolved from occasional criminal incidents into a sophisticated ecosystem of violence, profit and political complicity. Each mass abduction and each community attack exposes a painful reality. The state is fighting enemies who understand our emotional thresholds and exploit them mercilessly. They know that Nigerians will always value the life of a kidnapped citizen more than any moral argument about whether ransom should or should not be paid. What remains constant in every incident is that once the victim regains freedom, the nation simply moves on until the next tragedy unfolds.
The debate around ransom payment in Nigeria is filled with hypocrisy. Officials deny payments in public while quietly negotiating behind the scenes. Citizens condemn ransom payment as a matter of principle but would abandon such principles instantly if the life of their own child were at stake. A friend once insisted that negotiating with bandits must never be an option. I asked if he would maintain that stand if the kidnapped victim were his daughter. His silence revealed a truth we all know. Principles become powerless when confronted with personal grief.
Nigeria is still haunted by the Chibok tragedy. If former President Goodluck Jonathan had pursued the release of the abducted girls with any strategy available, including negotiation, exchange or unconventional diplomacy, many of those young girls could today be engineers, doctors, scholars or global contributors. Instead, countless dreams were broken because a government failed its children. Nations that value human life understand that saving the citizen comes first, even if it requires compromise. The United States, for instance, will negotiate temporarily or deploy elite forces to rescue its citizens, and only after securing lives will it settle scores with those responsible. Functional nations protect their people before anything else.
Kidnapping in Nigeria has become a thriving industry because it is profitable and protected by powerful interests. Some sponsors hide behind political power. Others operate from royal or influential institutions. A country cannot defeat terrorism while maintaining cordial relationships with the individuals who finance it. Nigeria must identify and confront these figures as national enemies regardless of their status or prestige. Kidnapping must cease to be a low-risk, high-profit enterprise. The severity of the crime demands the highest form of punishment. Life imprisonment may still be too lenient considering the devastation inflicted on victims and communities.
National security in the modern era is intelligence-driven, not ego-driven. This is why many smaller nations manage internal threats more effectively than Nigeria. South Africa, for example, has advanced intelligence gathering capabilities and security technologies that Nigeria can learn from. Collaboration among African nations should be based on solidarity and shared interest in protecting the continent. Partnerships with global powers are also valuable, provided such engagements do not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty or allow foreign actors to exploit the country further.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has shown commendable commitment in the recent successful rescue of kidnapped victims from Kebbi and Kwara States. His actions demonstrate a leadership that is willing to intervene decisively when it matters most. This signals a president who sees himself as a father to the nation and who understands his moral responsibility to protect lives. Nigerians should appreciate this momentum and encourage its continuity. The administration must also strengthen its relationship with diaspora professionals. Nigerians abroad are not in competition with local politicians. They are partners in national development and possess experience that can significantly benefit the country. President Tinubu himself faced rejection and resistance early in his political journey. Today, he must ensure that internal gatekeepers do not block the valuable contributions that diaspora citizens are eager to offer.
For Nigeria to break free from the cycle of terror and banditry, certain urgent measures must be embraced. The kidnapping economy must be dismantled from top to bottom. Punishment for kidnapping must be unambiguously severe. Security reforms must rely on intelligence, technology and community cooperation rather than reactionary force. International collaboration must be pursued in a way that preserves national dignity. Above all, Nigerians must unite, because terrorists thrive when societies are divided.
Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism is not just a fight to protect human lives. It is a fight to protect its future, dignity and national identity. Until we treat every kidnapped Nigerian as a priceless asset whose rescue is non-negotiable, the nation will continue to surrender its security and its sovereignty to those who hide in the forests and feed on fear.
