Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Nigerian government to abandon the growing reliance on ransom payments in securing the release of kidnapping victims and instead embrace technology-driven rescue operations.
Speaking at a public event aired by TVC News on Thursday, Falana questioned the logic behind allowing criminal groups to dictate terms to victims’ families, insisting that the payment of ransom only encourages and sustains the kidnapping industry.
According to him, advances in science and technology have made it possible to track criminals and locate victims without rewarding criminality. Falana noted that modern applications and digital tools can help security agencies identify the location of suspects and rescue abducted persons more effectively. He argued that countries with advanced security systems have successfully deployed technology, intelligence gathering, and surveillance assets to combat violent crimes and hostage situations.
The senior advocate further urged the Federal Government to strengthen collaboration with international partners and seek technical support in the fight against insecurity. Citing past hostage rescue operations carried out through sophisticated intelligence and surveillance techniques, Falana maintained that Nigeria must invest in modern security capabilities rather than depend on ransom negotiations.
Finally, He warned that continued payment of huge sums to kidnappers would only embolden criminal groups and worsen the country’s security challenges.
