Police Hostage Rescue Operation: Assessing Nigerian Police Alertness and Responses to Kidnapped Victims

Kidnapping and hostage-taking have plagued Nigeria for over two decades, beginning with protests in the country’s Niger-Delta region. Afterward, the phenomenon has spread like a Harmattan bush fire across the country’s length and breadth. Although the phenomenon evolved from sheer agitation it became the most thriving business, even though it is on the wrong side of morality. Evidently, the spectacle has drawn tremendous literature and a crow’s nest that range from its evolution to politics, socioeconomic consequences and alternative negotiation, among other concerns and worries associated with it. Going by studies, the phenomenon has resulted in atrocious ransom payments, inhumane treatment and even deaths of helpless victims. Connectedly, the unpleasant experiences of victims, especially at the hands of their captors, inform this discourse on the alertness and responses of the Nigerian Police to kidnapped victims, which is what has remained either under-assessed or significantly under-examined. Relying significantly on both primary and secondary data, this article assesses the main security institution entrusted with the internal security of the nation, viz-à-viz its response to victims’ calls via operational tools, manpower, training and education, intelligence and synergy with sister security agencies. This article concludes that inadequacies and deficiencies in these variables have stalled the timely rescue of victims by police forces in the country.