Kidnapping Now Major Funding Source for Terrorists, Says NCTC Boss
The Federal Government has raised alarm over the growing reliance of criminal and terrorist groups on kidnapping as a primary source of financing, warning that the trend now fuels the purchase of arms, sustains violent operations, and, in some areas, enables criminals to exert territorial control.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka (retd.), made the disclosure on Wednesday at a Stakeholders’ Workshop of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell in Abuja.
Laka said the rapid evolution of kidnapping—from an opportunistic crime to a structured and profitable enterprise—has significantly strengthened criminal networks carrying out terrorism, banditry, separatist violence, and farmer-herder conflicts across the country.
“What was once an opportunistic crime has become a persistent and destabilising enterprise, enabling these groups to procure logistics, perpetuate terror, and, in some cases, exert territorial control,” he said.
The workshop was convened as part of a national effort to deepen coordination, improve intelligence sharing, and enhance joint operations among security agencies tackling Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis.
Laka explained that rising national and international concern over kidnapping prompted a partnership between the Nigerian and United Kingdom governments, resulting in the establishment of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell at the NCTC. Commissioned by the National Security Adviser on December 19, 2024, the Cell now serves as the central hub for coordinating counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across the country.
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“Since its operationalisation, the Cell has coordinated the efforts of the Armed Forces, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to prevent, disrupt, and respond to kidnapping, with notable success,” he said. “Analysts within the Cell have generated actionable intelligence leading to the rescue of hostages and the disruption of kidnapping syndicates nationwide.”
To improve coordination with state-level operatives, Laka recalled that in July 2025, the NCTC conducted a national expansion programme for Anti-Kidnap Commanders of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite these gains, he noted the need to incorporate additional stakeholders—including the media, telecom operators, and social media platforms—into the country’s anti-kidnapping architecture.
He urged participants to develop practical interventions that would support rescue operations, dismantle criminal networks, and protect vulnerable communities while maintaining strong links with the Fusion Cell.
The Acting High Commissioner of the British High Commission, Gill Lever, commended the progress recorded by the Centre, expressing the UK’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping initiatives.
Similarly, the Head of the UK’s National Crime Agency, Chris Gibson, emphasised that sustained collaboration and clear communication among all stakeholders are vital to the Cell’s continued success, noting that anti-kidnapping measures require active participation from all citizens.
Kidnapping remains one of Nigeria’s most pervasive security challenges, prompting the government to intensify multi-agency interventions in partnership with international allies, particularly the United Kingdom.
By PRNigeria
