By Nurat Uthman
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has urged all security, intelligence, and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to take responsibility for protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
Ribadu made the call at the briefing of service chiefs and heads of agencies on the roadmap for the establishment of the proposed anti-kidnap fusion cell on Thursday in Abuja.
The NSA was represented by the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), retired Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Raphael Towoju of the Strategic Communications Department of NCTC-ONSA on Thursday in Abuja.
Ribadu said all stakeholders needed to come together to find a comprehensive solution to combating the menace of kidnapping for ransom and other related crimes bedevilling the country.
He said that the first Security and Defense Partnership dialogue between the United Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria was held in London in February 2022, as part of the concerted efforts by ONSA to address the menace of kidnapping in Nigeria.
According to him, one of the agreements reached during the dialogue was the need to create an Anti-Kidnap Multi-Agency Fusion Cell to help stem the threats of kidnapping in the country.
“So far, eight workshops have been held by personnel of relevant stakeholders working with experts of the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).
“The workshops culminated in the setting up of a multi-agency writing team to contribute to the formulation of a National Anti-Kidnapping Strategy,” he said.
The NSA expressed appreciation to the UK through the High Commissioner for the support provided in the nation’s efforts to tackle the issue of kidnapping and other crimes in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, said the first duty of any government was the security of its citizens, adding that the issue of kidnapping brings trauma to families.
Montgomery reiterated the commitment of the UK Government to the full implementation of the Security/Defence partnership between the two nations.
