Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) says that the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, a specially-created special unit made up of officers from different security and law enforcement agencies, has been kitted with state-of-the-art surveillance technologies to combat kidnapping across Nigeria.
Nigeria, the NSA says, has taken a major step in the fight against kidnapping with the launch of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, a special unit made up of officers from different security and law enforcement agencies.
These operatives are fitted with “state-of-the-art intelligence and surveillance systems that will enable swift response and proactive intervention against kidnapping incidents.”
To enable accessibility, the team is equipped with dedicated emergency contact numbers, allowing citizens across Nigeria to quickly report kidnapping cases. The goal is to diminish ungoverned spaces and deprive criminals of the operational freedom they currently exploit. The government believes that public cooperation will be key to making this unit effective.
NSA: Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell enables swift response
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, explains that the unit was created to “dismantle kidnapping networks and enhance inter-agency collaboration.”
The NSA also thanked the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, and the team responsible for setting up the unit.
The country plagued by kidnapping, driven by criminal syndicates, bandit groups, and violent extremists who exploit it for financial gains and to undermine governments’ efforts has escalated greatly. It disrupts livelihood, communities and national security
It has also been acknowledged that to confront this crime, “a robust, intelligence-driven, and technology-enabled response, backed by strong institutional frameworks and international collaboration” is required, hence the reason for the establishment of the Anti-fusion cells.
To enable accessibility, the team is equipped with dedicated emergency contact numbers, allowing citizens across Nigeria to quickly report kidnapping cases. The goal is to diminish ungoverned spaces and deprive criminals of the operational freedom they currently exploit. The government believes that public cooperation will be key to making this unit effective.
To build public trust and keep Nigerians informed, the National Coordinator, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, has introduced a monthly press briefings that will “keep the public informed on kidnapping trends, operational successes, and preventive measures.”
The Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell is backed by a legal framework and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that its activities are “conducted with credibility, transparency, and adherence to due process.”
The government is calling on Nigerians to see the Fusion Cell as “a national asset, built to serve and protect, rather than a detached government initiative.”
This new unit is part of Nigeria’s counter-kidnapping strategy, showing the government’s commitment to making the country safer for all, according to government.
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