The Federal Government of Nigeria has been urged to establish a dedicated Forest Guard service to address the growing issue of highway kidnappings, particularly during the busy holiday season.
This call was made in a statement by Mr. Amah A. Amah, Director General of the African Writers Centre, on Saturday. He highlighted the urgent need for action as the end-of-year holiday period approaches.
“As 2024 comes to a close and Nigerians plan their end-of-year travels, a pressing concern for many is, ‘How can we travel between the Northern and Southern parts of the country without the fear of being kidnapped?’” Amah said. “With air travel out of reach for most Nigerians, road travel has become increasingly dangerous, with kidnapping incidents happening almost every week.”
Amah referred to the most recent incident involving passengers aboard a popular transport company, God is Good Motors (GIGM). Fourteen passengers traveling from Port Harcourt to Abuja were abducted by gunmen around Obajana, Kogi State, on November 30, 2024. The attackers, who struck just after the Dangote refinery, held the passengers captive, while only the bus driver managed to escape. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N100 million for the release of each of the passengers.
This latest incident follows several similar attacks along the same highway. In February 2024, 12 GIGM passengers and two from ABC Transport were abducted in Kogi State. In that case, the kidnappers demanded N15 million per passenger, though it remains unclear if the ransom was paid.
Earlier this year, in August, Anambra State’s Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, and his wife were kidnapped on their way to a wedding in Abuja. In mid-August, gunmen also abducted 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, who were traveling to a convention in Enugu. The students were freed after 10 days in captivity.
The problem isn’t limited to the North-South corridor. Similar kidnappings have occurred across Nigeria, particularly on highways that pass through large, unmanned forest areas. These forests have become havens for criminals, with little to no security presence.
Amah called for the immediate establishment of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), a dedicated body that would patrol the nation’s forests and highways. “With government support through the enabling Act of the National Assembly, these forests will no longer be lawless. They will be under constant surveillance, with security personnel deployed around the clock,” he said.
The NFSS has outlined plans to maintain a visible presence in forested areas, ensuring that highways running through these regions are cleared of obstructions and secure from ambushes. By clearing a 10-meter zone on both sides of major roads, the service aims to prevent sudden attacks on travelers.
The call for a robust security response is growing louder as Nigerians continue to face the threat of kidnapping on the nation’s highways.
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