Laka: Terrorists, Bandits, Other Groups Use Kidnapping as Primary Revenue Source

•North-central governors plan security summit

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Linus Aleke in Abuja

National Coordinator of National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, said terrorists, bandits, and other armed criminal networks in the country used kidnapping as a primary revenue stream, exploiting ransoms to fund logistics, weapons procurement, and territorial expansion.

Laka also stressed that the growing criminal economy thrived on fear and weak coordination by state forces.

That was as Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, disclosed that governors of the North-central states were concerned about the security challenge in the region and had resolved to convene a security summit to address the menace.

Addressing a joint press conference with British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Amb. Gill Lever, to officially unveil the State Expansion Programme of the “Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell”, Laka lamented that kidnapping had evolved into one of the most persistent and destabilising security threats in Nigeria.

He stated that the programme was a significant step in Nigeria’s collective security architecture.

The national coordinator said, “The nature of kidnapping today has changed. What used to be occasional, opportunistic crimes have become systematic operations involving well-organised and well-armed criminal networks.

“These networks, often with links to terrorist and armed groups, use kidnapping as a primary revenue stream, exploiting ransoms to fund logistics, weapons procurement, and territorial expansion. This growing criminal economy thrives on fear, and where coordination is weak.”

To address the problem, Laka explained, “We established the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency. Since then, the cell has made significant strides. It has played key roles in supporting rescue operations, disrupting kidnapping networks, and improving interagency coordination.

“However, experience has shown that while national coordination is crucial, state-level engagement is indispensable. Too often, real-time intelligence, local knowledge, and operational readiness reside with field commands, while national coordination can only succeed when it is informed by ground realities.”

Laka revealed that the primary purpose of the programme was to close the gap between national-level coordination and state-level response, stating that the programme aimed at building direct operational linkages between the cell and state commands across the country.

The British Deputy High Commissioner said the role of the State Expansion Programme of the “Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell” was to provide support to the Nigeria Police and the DSS anti-kidnap units in every state and to collect, analyse, and disseminate data to the NSA and provide information about kidnapping incidents, state by state.

North-central Govs Plan Security Summit

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang,  disclosed that governors of the North-central states were concerned about the rising security challenge in the region and had resolved to convene a security summit to address the challenge.  Mutfwang also restated his administration’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and people-focused governance during a media parley with journalists and media stakeholders in Jos.

The interactive session, which provided a platform for open dialogue, saw the governor addressing critical issues, ranging from security and infrastructure to health, education, and economic development.

He emphasised the importance of the media as a strategic partner in nation-building and governance, stating that public feedback remains central to his administration’s decision-making process.

Mutfwang also spoke on the state’s power sector reforms, revealing that Plateau has established its Electricity Commission and Corporation, with work ongoing to improve transmission and distribution, including mini-grid deployments and 132kV line expansions.