Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party, has raised fresh concerns over the growing insecurity in Nigeria, warning that ransom payments to kidnappers and bandits are helping criminal groups expand their operations across the country.
Speaking during an interview from 22:21 on SYMFONI TV, Baba-Ahmed said the funds obtained from kidnappings are not being invested in legitimate businesses or luxury projects, but are instead being used to strengthen criminal networks through the purchase of weapons and recruitment of more fighters.
The former presidential aide stated that the rising cases of abductions in many parts of the country have turned kidnapping into a lucrative enterprise for armed groups. According to him, the inability of authorities to effectively tackle the menace has emboldened criminals and increased fear among citizens.
“They don’t use this money to buy mansions in Abuja and Lagos. They buy more weapons. They get more people to join them so that they can get more and more Nigerians as kidnappers,” Baba-Ahmed said during the interview.
He explained that the continuous flow of ransom money is fueling a dangerous cycle in which criminal gangs become stronger and more organized after every successful operation. Baba-Ahmed stressed that the country urgently needs a comprehensive strategy to weaken the financial and operational capacity of kidnappers and bandits.
The PRP chairman also called for improved intelligence gathering, stronger border security and closer collaboration between federal and state authorities in addressing insecurity. He noted that many rural communities have become vulnerable to attacks, while economic activities in affected areas continue to suffer due to fear and instability….Read_More…