The Federal Government has reiterated its strong commitment to dismantling the growing kidnap-for-ransom economy in Nigeria, describing it as a well-organised criminal industry threatening national security.
Major General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists on the progress of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, developed in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
Laka announced the formal launch of the State Expansion Programme of the Fusion Cell, which aims to bridge the gap between national coordination and state-level operational response in tackling kidnapping.
He stressed that kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved from isolated incidents to a sophisticated, highly organised criminal enterprise, driven by armed networks that use ransom payments to fund weapons, logistics, and territorial influence.
“This is no longer random crime—it’s an economy of violence built on fear,” Laka said. “Our goal is to dismantle that economy by aligning national strategy with frontline response.”
The Multi-Agency Fusion Cell, he said, was designed to strengthen rescue operations, break kidnapping syndicates, and improve collaboration between security agencies. The expanded programme now aims to deepen that effort by integrating more state-level commands into the framework.
General Laka highlighted that many kidnapping networks are closely linked with terrorist and armed groups, relying on ransom proceeds as a primary source of funding.
“Where fear reigns and coordination is weak, these criminal economies thrive,” he noted. “This initiative is about building operational linkages between the Fusion Cell and state security agencies to enable quicker response backed by real-time intelligence.”
He emphasized that the success of the anti-kidnap campaign rests on a fusion of national coordination and local insight, stressing the importance of empowering field operatives with the support and intelligence needed for swift action.
Since its inception, the Fusion Cell has reportedly played a pivotal role in supporting rescue missions, disrupting organized kidnapping groups, and enhancing interagency cooperation.
“This state-level expansion is designed to make our national response smarter, faster, and more connected to the realities on the ground,” Laka concluded.
