Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed a troubling dimension to the country’s kidnapping problem, revealing that some individuals now fake their own abductions in order to extort ransom from their families.
Ribadu made this known while addressing Nigeria’s deteriorating internal security, noting that the crisis is being worsened not only by criminal gangs but also by citizens who collaborate with kidnappers or deliberately create false kidnapping situations for monetary gain.
According to him, security agencies have uncovered incidents where supposed victims were never forcefully taken, but instead planned the act with friends or associates to deceive relatives into paying ransom.
“There are cases where people are not actually kidnapped,” Ribadu explained. “Some arrange with others to stage their own abduction so their families can be pressured into paying ransom.”
He cited an example of a young man who allegedly conspired with friends to pretend he had been kidnapped, solely to obtain money from his father.
The NSA further warned that modern technology is now being exploited to make such scams more convincing. He said artificial intelligence tools are being used to alter voices and create fake distress calls, making it difficult for families to distinguish between genuine kidnappings and staged ones.
“People now use technology to change their voices, claim they have been kidnapped, demand ransom, receive the money and later resurface,” he said.
Ribadu cautioned that this growing trend is sabotaging genuine security operations and weakening public confidence, as families are increasingly uncertain whether ransom demands are legitimate or fabricated.
He also identified community involvement as a major challenge, alleging that some locals provide kidnappers with vital information, logistics and protection, thereby enabling criminal activities.
The NSA called for a change in societal attitudes, stressing that insecurity cannot be solved by government alone. He urged Nigerians to reject criminality, remain vigilant and actively support security agencies.
“There is a need to reawaken the conscience of the population,” he said, emphasizing the importance of public awareness and cooperation.
In a related development, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the NSA, Major General Adamu Laka, raised concerns over the role of some Point of Sale (POS) operators in aiding terrorism and kidnapping.
Speaking during a media engagement in Abuja on Tuesday, Laka revealed that kidnappers increasingly direct victims’ families to transfer ransom payments to POS operators, who then make the cash available to the criminals.
“One of the major problems we are dealing with is the involvement of POS operators,” he said. “Ransom money is often sent to accounts linked to POS agents, from where the terrorists or kidnappers easily withdraw it.”
He assured that authorities are working to clamp down on the practice and disrupt such financial channels.
What factors do you think are driving some Nigerians to stage their own kidnappings, and what practical steps can be taken to address insecurity in the country? Share your thoughts in the comments.
