As 2024 comes to a close and Nigerians prepare for end-of-year travels, fears surrounding rampant highway kidnappings persist, amplified by skyrocketing flight ticket prices that have left many unable to afford air travel.
Amah A. Amah, Director General of the African Writers’ Centre in Lagos, has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the crisis by establishing a Forest Guard to secure highways, particularly along the North-South corridor. This stretch has witnessed numerous kidnapping incidents, including high-profile cases such as the abduction of 14 passengers from a commercial bus traveling from Port Harcourt to Abuja near Obajana, Kogi State, on November 30.
Amah detailed other incidents, including the February kidnapping of 12 passengers from a popular transport company and the August abduction of 20 medical students traveling for a convention. He lamented that many cases remain unreported, further underscoring the gravity of the situation. According to him, travelers now embark on journeys with trepidation, as incidents of abduction and violence along forested stretches of major highways are alarmingly frequent.
Amah emphasized the urgent need for the Federal Government to establish the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS). He argued that the NFSS, empowered by an enabling Act of the National Assembly, could secure unmanned forests, implement 24-hour surveillance, and maintain highway visibility by clearing areas around expressways to deter ambushes.
Such measures, he said, would significantly reduce the risks travelers face and restore confidence in road transport.
Professor Ugwu Anthony of Nnamdi Azikiwe University echoed these sentiments, advocating for the installation of CCTV cameras along major highways and checkpoints. He highlighted how these cameras could serve dual purposes: curbing alleged extortion by security agents, particularly in the South East, and monitoring bandit activities to improve highway safety.
Ugwu pointed out that these measures would also address allegations of complicity between some security personnel and criminals, while reducing transport costs driven by extortion at checkpoints. He urged the government to prioritize these actions before the Christmas season, a peak travel period for many Nigerians.
Both experts agree that without decisive government intervention, the cycle of kidnappings, extortion, and insecurity will persist, affecting Nigeria’s global reputation and causing untold emotional, psychological, and financial strain on citizens. They called for swift legislative and executive action to combat these challenges and restore safety on Nigeria’s roads.
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