Why Nigeria's Security Forces Cannot Stop Kidnappings, Even of Their Own
May 31, 2026 · Frisian News
The abduction of a retired Nigerian general and his wife in the north-west exposes years of failed security strategy and the military's inability to control vast regions.
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar went missing with his wife from a region that Nigeria's government claims to patrol and protect. He was a retired officer who spent decades defending the state. His kidnapping is not an anomaly. It is the logical outcome of a security apparatus that spreads itself too thin, lacks intelligence, and cannot hold territory it does not actively occupy.
Nigeria's north-west has become a transit zone for criminal gangs and militia groups. These groups operate because the military cannot maintain a permanent presence everywhere at once. When soldiers do patrol, they often come under fire. The gangs melt back into towns where they have local support or safe houses. The pattern repeats: a major figure gets taken, the military issues a statement, negotiations happen behind closed doors, and ransom money changes hands. The cycle continues because it works.
The state's response reveals the core problem. Officials blame "security challenges" as though they are natural disasters rather than the result of choices made by military leadership and political officials. Nigeria's federal government has not funded adequate intelligence networks in these regions. It has not trained soldiers to conduct counterinsurgency operations effectively. It has not invested in local partnerships that would help troops distinguish between civilians and fighters. Instead, it sends units in and out of dangerous zones on rotating deployments.
Money also matters here. Reports suggest that gangs operating in Nigeria's north-west have connections to political figures and military officers who benefit from instability. A secure region generates less federal military spending. A chaotic region justifies larger budgets and keeps politicians relevant. Whether these claims are fully true or partly true, they explain why the problem persists despite billions in defense spending.
The kidnapping of a former general sends a message that no one is safe. It also tells criminal groups that even retired officers command ransoms. The state loses credibility each time this happens. And the likelihood that the military will actually change how it operates remains very low.
Published May 31, 2026 · Frisian News