A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Ehilebo, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, alleging that criminal activities such as kidnapping have evolved into a profitable enterprise for some individuals.
Speaking on News Central’s Politics HQ on Friday, Ehilebo said the government’s failure to bring perpetrators of major terrorist attacks to justice has contributed significantly to the persistence and spread of insecurity across the country.
According to him, several high-profile incidents linked to terrorism and mass abductions remain unresolved, creating an atmosphere of impunity.
“When Boko Haram kidnapped girls in Borno State, till today we have not found those responsible and held them to account. Buni Yadi happened and nobody was held to account, and it spread to other schools,” he said.
Ehilebo noted that insecurity in Nigeria has taken on multiple dimensions, ranging from ideological extremism to financially motivated crimes.
“There are multiple facets, and there is one that is solely domiciled within terrorism. If you look at the literal translation of Boko Haram, it means western education is haram according to radical Islamic teachings,” he stated.
He further argued that economic incentives have increasingly driven criminal activities, particularly kidnapping, which he described as a thriving industry in some parts of the country.
Citing a recent case, Ehilebo alleged that a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in one of the states was arrested for allegedly orchestrating her own abduction in a bid to secure ransom payments from the state government.
“It has now become an industry and a commercial venture for some, while for others it has become a religiously driven ideology. But the bottom line that has sustained this menace is the lack of consequences, which is largely influenced by political will,” he added.
The PDP chieftain called for stronger political commitment and accountability in tackling insecurity, warning that failure to address the root causes and punish offenders would continue to embolden criminal elements across the country.
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