The Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa (Rtd) has said that the large volume of kidnapping taking place in the country and the proceeds generated through ransom payments are being used to fuel terrorism.
Speaking on Wednesday during the `Anti-Kidnap Multi-Agency Fusion Cell Media and Communication workshop’, organised by ONSA in collaboration with the British High Commission, Rear Admiral Musa said, “Evidently, the kidnapping menace requires concerted and sustained efforts by every citizen, government at all levels, international community and the media which of course is the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“You will agree with me that proceeds of kidnap for ransom enterprise have continued to serve as a platform for financing terrorism not only in Nigeria but across the Sahel”. Hence the need for collective efforts in advancing measures to check the threat.
Emphasizing that the workshop was pertinent to the overall success of the government’s effort to curtail the menace of kidnapping, he said the media would help to build the kind of relationship the NCTC-ONSA desired on the efforts of security agencies in the protection of lives and properties in the country.
Reiterating that it was vital that the government and the media work together to establish a framework of synergy and standardisation for reporting on security-related matters, Musa noted that such collaboration would not only enhance the accuracy and quality of news reporting but also contribute to national security.
