LAGOS JULY 12TH (NEWSRNAGERS)-Speaking with this reporter, a security agent who does not want his name published advised passengers and motorists plying highways to be vigilant as some kidnappers disguise as drivers or passengers and abduct travelers on highways.
According to him, one of his neighbours who were released by the kidnappers narrated his ugly experience in the hands of the kidnappers.
He said the gang, including the driver of a bus disguised as passengers, boarded the commercial bus only to be forced to stop halfway and robbed by eight kidnappers who collected their phones and money before leading other passengers into a thick forest.
“One of my neighbours who boarded a bus was stopped in the middle of the road. The kidnappers, disguised as passengers numbering up to eight, marched them into the forest. After they had collected their phones, they released three of them (including my neighbour) and took others into the deep forest. Only God knows their fate inside the kidnapper’s den.
“Also, the driver of the eighteen-passenger bus was among the kidnapper gang. Let’s create this awareness,” he said.
Incidents
Also, recently, what could have turned into a tragic story of abduction was heroically averted, thanks to the quick thinking and fearless actions of a bus driver and the timely intervention of Nigerian soldiers stationed along the Isialangwa axis of the Aba–Umuahiae expressway.
Eyewitnesses said, “Passengers travelling in two coaster buses from Aba to Umuahia narrowly escaped being kidnapped after six armed men, disguised as passengers, boarded the buses at different pickup points in Aba. The situation escalated shortly after the journey began when the disguised criminals attempted to hijack the vehicles, directing the drivers to divert into a secluded and unsafe route, presumably to facilitate their evil plot.
“Faced with life-threatening danger and a firearm pointed at him, the driver of the first coaster bus made a courageous decision that would ultimately save dozens of lives. Instead of yielding to the kidnappers’ demands, he kept his composure, accelerated the vehicle, and drove at high speed towards the Isialangwa Army checkpoint, alerting the attention of soldiers on duty.
“The driver’s bold action caught the kidnappers off guard and triggered a swift response from the Nigerian Army personnel, who immediately intercepted the bus and apprehended the armed men. Their weapons were seized, and all passengers were safely rescued without injuries or casualties.”
NURTW’s reaction
However, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Nyanya, (FCT), Inuwa Absullahi, said drivers that collude with kidnappers are not their members. He said the majority of passengers who fall victim of kidnapping board vehicles on the roadside.
He advised passengers to board vehicles inside motor parks whenever they wanted to travel and to fill the travelers’ form before leaving, in case of any eventualities.
According to the chairman, boarding of vehicles outside motor parks is against the ethics of road transport unions in the country.
He said that besides, stiff measures to address boarding of vehicles outside parks were being put in place to reduce any bad incidents like kidnapping on the highway.
“We are determined to reduce all abnormalities on the highway including kidnapping. Our members have been warned repeatedly to pick passengers only at the parks. The union has also organised various enlightenment, training and awareness programmes for members to keep them informed on the road signs,’’ he said.
He said the union has severe punishment for any member found driving under the influence of alcohol.
Abdullahi said the union always punishes any member that tested positive to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) breathalysers to detect any driver under the influence of alcohol.
“The union has also established a task force to arrest and punish any erring member, who drives against traffic or violates rules and regulations.
“We are doing this for safety purposes to curb unnecessary accidents on the road. Our members are educated regularly on the dangers of speed, overloading, dangerous driving and the use of bad tyres,” he said.
Forest security
In his view, a security consultant and CEO of Halims Backbone, a private security outfit, Dr. Godfrey Iyaye, called on the federal government to take urgent and decisive action to stem the tide of incessant kidnappings on the highways. This, he said, the government could achieve by establishing and arming forest guards.
He said the common question on the lips of average Nigerians planning a trip between the northern and southern parts of the country using the road, considering the fact that air fare is quite out of reach of the common man, is how to embark on such a journey without being kidnapped.
“This is because travel from the South to Northern Nigeria corridor has become so precarious that most passengers say their last prayers before embarking on such trips, as there is hardly a week without incidents of kidnapping on this highway,” he said.
He lamented that there were also so many unreported cases, including loss of lives on these highways and other corridors in Nigeria, stressing that the ugly trend is not specific to the North – South corridor, since it also happens on most of the highways in Nigeria, where vehicles have to traverse large expanses of forested areas that are unmanned and unguarded.
“I wonder how long the federal government would wait before establishing the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) for dedicated manning of the forested areas, to smoke out the criminals and ensure security and safety of Nigerians, especially travelers,” he said.
He expressed confidence that with the government’s backing for the NFSS through an enabling Act of the National Assembly; the unmanned forests would no longer be a no-man’s land, as they would be under 24 hours’ surveillance and dedicated guard by security officers and men of the NFSS.
“The NFSS had earlier indicated that it has a strategic plan to, not just maintain full presence and guard in all forests, but also ensure a clear view of all highways in the forested areas by clearing 10 metres on both sides of the expressway to discourage any sudden attack or ambush of motorists.
“The mood of Nigerians is that the federal government should expedite action on the NFSS Bill on the floor of the National Assembly as a panacea to save Nigerians from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and all forms of crimes that ungoverned and unmanned forests have cocooned in Nigeria.
“Among many other regrettable consequences, some of the negative impacts of these incidents that have become rampant are that there are many unaccounted loss of lives, Nigeria’s international image is being battered daily as a very unsafe country for business and investment, the unfortunate situation gives a strange impression to citizens and the international community that the federal government cannot protect lives and properties in the country, there is health related stress, as well as deep emotional and psychological trauma to the victims and their families, huge revenues are lost through payments of ransom, the road transport business is being threatened and the corporate image of affected companies are being smeared,” he said.
Experts’ take
Also speaking with this reporter, a retired commissioner of police and for member of the police anti-kidnapping squad, Stanley Eguma,
Highlighted tips on how to avoid being a victim of highway kidnappers and bandits.
He said, “First and foremost, if you have to travel, you are expected to come out with travel plans or route plans. In your plans, you must try to make sure you avoid all these areas that have got the hot spots if it is avoidable. But if it is not avoidable, you must ensure that there is no stopping on the way or at any crowd incident spot which you should come across. You have to move on.
“Avoid unnecessary stoppages along the way. If you are travelling with your kids, make necessary arrangements for them. Carry all their necessary needs like sweets, biscuits or whatever, so that they don’t make you stop on the way.
“Your vehicle windows and doors must at all times be wound up. Watch out for vehicles that may be trailing after you. If you notice such, slow and stop at any safe haven. By safe haven, I mean places like police check-points, and so on. When the vehicle passes you, you could continue your journey. But if you want to draw police attention, you can do so immediately for them to stop the vehicle.
“Avoid lonely routes as much as possible and what we also call dry routes. Dry routes are when you realise that you are the only vehicle on that road. When you cannot notice any vehicle both incoming and behind you, you have to be very suspicious.”
Also, another security expert, Malam Yunusa Kurfi, advised passengers to maintain a low profile when they want to travel especially on routes notorious for kidnapping.
“Don’t try driving in very expensive cars. As much as possible, you know these guys that are into kidnapping or banditry are after maximizing their profits. When you come in all these flamboyant cars, they say, ‘Oh, these are the people we make billions with.’ Avoid ostentatious displays. Avoid making a particular route a routine. If so, look for an alternative route and take it a time.
“Avoid very early and late movements; starting your trip by 4:00am and coming back late by 11:00pm or more. That’s very dangerous. Keep information on your trips confidential. Let it be on the need to know only. And if you are walking on foot, always make sure you are walking with a partner. And, of course, as an adult, you should not drop your instinct except for self development.
“Never be distracted by headphones, telephones or others. If you are in a high risk area, never use those things; of course, how can you hear if something is happening around when you are busy either listening to the news or enjoying music. Exercise caution when entering or leaving your car in such an area.
“When you have flat tyres as much as possible, keep moving on till you get to a safe place. I have suffered a similar thing on the highway before. I lost two good tyres completely, because I didn’t want to stop when it happened, I kept moving on. I was lucky to reach a police check-point, but by then I discovered I had lost two tyres. You have to keep safe. The tyres can go and, at least, let you be safe, first and foremost.”
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