Mallam Nuhu Ribadu says robbers have turned into kidnappers in Nigeria

The National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, says people no longer move around with cash, and that is why kidnapping has taken over from armed robbery in Nigeria today.

The NSA, who spoke to the editors on Thursday at the ongoing All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2023 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, said the nation’s insecurity was worsened by allowing Boko Haram, Banditry, the Niger Delta, and South East unrest to linger for too long.

He said, “These are four huge security challenges, and each can bring us down.

“If you have observed, armed robbery has given way to kidnapping. That is the trend across the country. Now most robbers have become kidnappers. Don’t let insecurity become part of you for a long time. It will ruin you.

“If you have noticed, armed robbery has been replaced by kidnapping in the country. That is what is going on now. And that is because people don’t carry cash anymore. So armed men would rather abduct you, so you can now bring out the money.”

He noted that when they came into office, they discovered that almost 600 kidnapping victims were still in captivity for about two to three years, claiming that with the advent of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, many are being freed and much work is being done to curb the insecurity.