Bandits and kidnappers have been dominating the news of late with humongous amounts being demanded for ransom from the families of their victims.
Oftentimes, the kidnappers terrorise, abuse and kill their victims even when a ransom was paid for the safe return of those in their custody.
The PUNCH had in January reported that civil society groups, under the aegis of the Civil Society Joint Action Group, said 17,469 Nigerians were abducted under the Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu administrations from 2019 to date.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Civil Society Joint Action Group, revealed that 2,423 persons had been killed, while 1,872 others had been abducted since the inauguration of President Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said insecurity had persisted over the last three administrations, with 24,816 Nigerians killed and 15,597 persons abducted in the last administration of President Buhari, between 2019 and 2023.
Out of the total number of 17, 469 kidnapped from 2019 and to date, 90 per cent of the cases were recorded under Buhari, while 10 per cent have been recorded under Tinubu.
With the waves of insecurity and kidnapping for ransom, here are safety tips that may protect you from being a victim.
– Board in designated motor parks when travelling by public transport. Avoid standing by the roadside to board the bus for cheaper prices.
– Travel with less cash, valuable watches, jewellery and others. Avoid displaying classy gadgets while driving in your car.
– Travel with a spare tyre, plug and fuel pump in your car always.
– Review travel plans. Avoid travelling at night, particularly on bad, poorly lit roads if you can.
– Drive to the nearest police station or place of safety whenever you feel your vehicle is being followed while travelling.
– While travelling with your car, ensure you fill up your tank before you hit the road.
– Respect curfews or restrictions imposed on the movement of vehicles and persons on the road or at your destination.
– Keep car windows up and doors locked when in traffic and keep valuables out of sight.
– Limit your speed to 100km per hour and be vigilant about your surroundings.
– Don’t pick up random people at the roadside.
