Crime

Why kidnappers now target top police personnel

Published

9 years ago

October 9, 2017

BY ALEX OLISE

It has been uncovered by National Daily that top Police personnel who have been in the forefront of the ongoing war against kidnapping and other vices have now become the latest target of kidnappers.

The reason, National Daily, learnt is only to weaken their effort to stop abduction thereby weakening their operational strength across the country.

The families of top Police personnel are now the major target since it will be difficult for the kidnappers to get the main top officers.

National Daily investigation revealed that there were three cases of abduction of top officers family in Lagos, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Edo and Ondo States. But in all the cases the victims were released only for the kidnappers to drop letter of warning for the officers.

A top source told National Daily that the spate of attempt in kidnapping families of top policemen is serious a issue and something need to be done.

According to the source, it is important that officers should try as much to hide the identities of their immediate families most especially their residence because this is one of the reason government should provide enough accommodation for personnel in the barracks.

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Aside from targeting policemen, investigation also revealed that other security agencies are also their target as families of military, customs, NSCDC, have also been victims as not all cases were reported to the Police.

National Daily finding is based on recent intormation gathered through situation reports from the five affected State Police Commands and internal sources. Most of the affected top police personnel refused to give their identity any longer on the issue after their loved ones gained freedom from the kidnappers.

Reacting on the issue the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Yekini Jimoh, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has ordered a special squad to track the kidnap gang and also urged personnel to be security conscious.

An expert, Chuka Eze, advised police operatives to shun the use of social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp, among others which exposes their self and members of their families.