By Halima Sule, Abuja
Executive Director of an NGO, Inclusive Citizens Advancement Network (Inc-CAN), Mrs. Esther Nwankpa, has praised National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu alongside National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka and UK-based National Crime Agency (NCA) for rescuing many kidnap victims deploying Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC) three months after activating the new innovative fusion cell.
The fusion cell is housed in the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) located within the guarded Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and is supported by the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.
In a press release yesterday in Abuja, she commended the collaborative efforts spearheaded by the NCTC under the ONSA for effectively deploying the fusion cell which was built for two years and released in December 2024 to Nigeria by the UK-based National Crime Agency at an inauguration ceremony by the NSA in Abuja.
Mrs. Esther Nwankpa noted that her organization was excited that barely three months after the fusion cell was inaugurated, no fewer than 78 kidnap victims have been successfully rescued from their captors to reunite with their families.
She described as gladdening and gratifying the most recent rescue of 78 victims involving an ex-ambassador and former Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, noting that time had come for all concerned Nigerians to give more support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the ongoing war against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes.
‘’There can be no better time than now for all Nigerians of goodwill to rally round our defence and security forces in the ongoing war against banditry and terror. We are gratified that the machinery set in motion by the National Secunty Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the NCTC amongst other structures are up and doing within the national security ecosystem. They need our prayers and support.
‘The recent successful rescue of Brigadier General Tsiga (rtd) and the other victims, added to 59 other victims who were handed over to Kaduna State government’s official on 19 February 2025, deserve words of praise the NSA, the NCTC leadership and to our gallant armed forces.
‘’But this special commendation won’t be complete without an extended applause to the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) which collaborated with law enforcement agencies to build the fusion cell.
‘’The initiative underscores the significant role which global push against crime and criminality can achieve anywhere across the world in the spirit of inclusive advancement for humanity which Inc-CAN, our NGO is all about’’, she said.
Noting that the MAAKFC initiative is a significant step to tackle one of Nigeria’s most pressing and endemic security challenges, she explained that the anti-kidnap fusion cell which required a robust and multi-agency whole of government approach is a revamped focus on collaboration, innovation, and dedication geared towards the safety and security of all Nigerians.
“Let me also commend the unique patriotism and painstakingness of the National Coordinator, Major General Adamu Laka and his dedicated staff at the National Counterterrorism Center for their dogged efforts. We’re indeed proud of the progress you have made so far sacrificing yourselves in making inclusive difference for the good of all of us in our country today.
‘’We’re convinced that definitely there would soon be light at the end of the tunnel when Nigerians heed Major General Adamu Laka’s charge to Nigerians to trust security agencies than resort to ransom payments in kidnapping cases’’, she said, contending that ransom payments end up spurring kidnappers to ask for more.
It would be recalled that the establishment of the cell followed Security Defence Partnership Dialogue signed between the NSA of Nigeria and UK in 2022 to stem rising spate of kidnapping in the country.
Between 2022 and 2024, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK partnered with ONSA to provide capacity-building exercises and support services to the National Counter Terrorism Center to set up a kidnap fusion center, a Terms of Reference and Standard Operation Procedure to guide the activities of the cell to operate as a 24/7 coordination centre where anti-kidnap efforts are not duplicated.
