By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Ali Pantami, has blamed security agencies in the country, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), for the rise in insecurity, particularly kidnapping in the country.
He said the organisations saddled with the responsibility of securing the nation have failed to use the policy he championed during his time at the federal government to tackle insecurity.
Recall that in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Mr Pantami, despite the stay-at-home directive by former President Muhammadu Buhari, forced many Nigerians out of their homes to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) centres across the country for the linkage of the National Identity Number (NIN) to their SIM cards.
When criticised for this then, he maintained that the NIN-SIM policy was to address the rising insecurity as it would enable the government to effectively track the payment of ransom to kidnappers and bandits as well as their movements.
But despite this, banditry and kidnapping have increased and last week, it was reported that kidnappers killed one of the six sisters abducted in Abuja.
The victim, Ms Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, was killed over the failure of her family to pay the N60 million demanded as ransom. Only N10 million was paid and the abductors threatened to eliminate the others if the balance was not paid.
This generated reactions on social media, with an appeal to raise the remaining money through crowdfunding to pay the kidnappers.
Mr Pantami, in a post on Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter, said a friend of his had agreed to pay N50 million to the kidnapper for the release of the girls.
This raised questions about the effectiveness of the NIN-SIM policy he initiated and while responding, he blamed the security agencies for not embracing the scheme.
“NIN-SIM policy has been working. However, the relevant institutions fighting criminality are to be requested to ensure they utilise it effectively when a crime is committed,” he said, stressing that the “lack of utilising it is the main problem.”
“While in office, I know of three instances where the policy was utilised, and it led to the success of their operations,” he added.
“On the lack of utilisation, I am more worried than anyone, as my life was threatened by criminals for reintroducing it, including on BBC Hausa and national dailies; I resisted and ensured its implementation.
“If it is not being utilised by the relevant institutions in charge of securing lives and property, then I am more frustrated than any person, as I sacrificed my life and ignored all the threats to life.
“This is just a point out of 100 on the policy. May the Almighty rescue all the kidnapped and bring absolute peace and stability to Nigeria, and may He (SWT) continue to guide our leaders and help them always in discharging their responsibilities,” he disclosed.
Adedapo Adesanya