Former Special Adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security situation, claiming that victims of kidnapping are often left to rely on themselves and their families for survival.
Speaking about a personal experience involving the abduction of his nephew, Baba-Ahmed said efforts to secure assistance from security agencies yielded little result despite providing critical information about the victim’s location.
“If you are kidnapped in Nigeria, you are completely on your own. No security agency will save you,” he said.
According to him, his nephew was kidnapped while he was serving as Special Adviser to Vice President Shettima. Despite reaching out to various security institutions and supplying them with the exact coordinates of the kidnappers’ hideout, he said authorities were unable to secure the victim’s release.
“I knocked on every door, entered every office, and gave them the exact coordinates of the location. They promised to help but couldn’t,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
He disclosed that the family eventually spent about ₦175 million, including ransom payments, before the victim regained freedom after spending 36 days in captivity.
The remarks have renewed concerns over the growing incidence of kidnapping across Nigeria and the challenges faced by security agencies in responding effectively to abduction cases.
