Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has emphasized that Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis did not originate in the North, warning that the menace now affects all regions and no part of the country can claim to be safe.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, Governor Sule highlighted the growing concern among Nigerian governors over the country’s security situation. He described the atmosphere at their recent meeting as tense, with many leaders expressing frustration and fear over the surge in abductions nationwide.
Sule noted that Nigerians often forget past events quickly, which can lead to unfairly blaming certain regions. “We usually forget things very, very easily and are quick to point accusing fingers at others,” he said.
He added that the stress and agitation at the governors’ meeting reflected how seriously leaders are taking the crisis. “You could see the tension and worry. Voices were raised, people were angry, warning, and questioning if enough was being done. We even accused ourselves of not doing enough,” he said.
Challenging the perception that kidnappings began in northern Nigeria, Sule traced the practice to the country’s oil-producing regions long before the North became a hotspot. “Between 2003 and 2009, kidnappings were not happening in northern Nigeria, but they were common in the oil-rich areas,” he explained.
Drawing from his experience in the oil and gas sector, the governor recalled how kidnappers frequently targeted foreign and local oil workers in the Niger Delta, making abductions a routine challenge for companies. He cited incidents, including one involving Tetra Tech, which led staff to refuse returning to Nigeria. “One of them was kidnapped, and they decided not to come back,” he said, describing how the crisis forced him to operate temporarily from Port Harcourt and Trans-Amadi.
Sule said early abductions were mainly financially motivated, with kidnappers targeting oil workers to demand ransom from companies. The situation eased during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration after negotiations helped calm tensions over resource control and militancy.
The governor warned against treating kidnapping as a regional problem, noting that such thinking allows criminals to expand their operations. “Kidnapping started in the South with oil workers, and the North assumed it was none of their business. Now it is a major problem in the North. All Nigerians must work together to eradicate kidnapping,” he said.
Despite the alarming spread of the crisis, Sule remains optimistic that Nigeria will eventually overcome the menace. “Kidnapping has reached northern Nigeria, but this is temporary, and it will come to an end,” he concluded.
