ASABA: The founder of the Safe City Foundation, Harrison Gwanishue, has raised the alarm over the changing tactics of kidnappers operating in Kogi, Edo, and Delta States, revealing that the criminals have adopted new strategies to evade law enforcement agencies.
In an exclusive interview, Gwanishue explained that despite ongoing security operations, incidents of kidnapping in these states have not reduced, as abductors have now shifted from using vehicles and motorcycles to moving on foot through forest routes.
These kidnappers now travel on foot through forest paths, he said. They lay ambush for unsuspecting travelers, abduct them, and take them deep into the bush where the victims are kept.
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They usually move their captives from one forest to another at night mostly between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. guided by gang members who are familiar with the terrain.
According to him, each gang typically comprises five to six members, armed mainly with AK-47 rifles, while one or two may carry cutlasses or other locally made weapons.
Gwanishue further revealed that intelligence gathered from recent arrests indicates that many of the kidnappers are Fulani tribesmen from Northern Nigeria, a claim corroborated by Hausa residents who can identify the suspects through their dialects.
The security advocate praised the Department of State Services (DSS) and several private security firms for their collaboration with his foundation in tracking criminal networks.
He noted that the use of advanced tracking devices and improved intelligence sharing have played a crucial role in tracing kidnappers’ movements.
We never go into the field alone, he explained. We always work alongside armed security agents, including the police, the army, and other operatives, to ensure safety during rescue operations.
While acknowledging that some local kidnappers still operate within communities, Gwanishue said such suspects are often easier to apprehend since they reside among the people, unlike those who take refuge deep inside forests.
He also spoke on the ongoing case of a young woman named Aisha, who was abducted recently around Auchi, Edo State. According to him, her kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million in ransom but later reduced it to ₦20 million.
Community members and sympathizers, he added, have begun contributing funds to secure her release, as the abductors reportedly set a deadline between yesterday and today. We are hopeful she will regain her freedom soon, Gwanishue said.
Currently in Nigeria’s eastern region for another security intervention, the activist shared that his passion for combating kidnapping stems from his four-year prison experience, during which he interacted with convicted criminals and learned about their operations.
My time in prison exposed me to how these criminal networks function, he recalled. I’ve told my parents not to worry about me but to keep praying. This work is dangerous, but it’s necessary.
Gwanishue reaffirmed his commitment to partnering with security agencies, private organizations, and communities to enhance intelligence gathering, rescue victims, and curb the growing menace of kidnapping across Nigeria.
