The Nigerian government has raised concerns over the increasing use of kidnapping as a major source of financing by terrorist groups operating in the country.
Speaking at a national forum on counter-terrorism strategies in Abuja, the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (rtd), stated that kidnapping for ransom has become a dominant revenue stream for terrorist and insurgent groups, posing a serious threat to national security and public safety.
Musa, representing the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), explained that evolving terror tactics now include mass abductions, which help fund weapons procurement, logistics, and recruitment. He stressed the urgent need for a coordinated national response and stronger collaboration among security agencies, community leaders, and international partners.
The forum, organised by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in partnership with Nigeria’s NCTC, brought together stakeholders to develop a national action plan in line with global best practices to prevent and counter terrorism.
UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, also emphasized the importance of addressing root causes such as poverty, marginalization, and lack of education, which often make communities vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups.
The Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing intelligence sharing, and deploying technology-driven responses to dismantle the economic foundations of terrorism.
Security analysts at the event stressed that ending terrorism in Nigeria requires tackling both the funding sources and the enabling environments that allow such crimes to flourish.
