By Abu, I. Michael
In a decisive move to effectively counter and tighten the noose against kidnappers in Nigeria, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the strategic guidance of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK)’s National Crime Agency (NCA), has expanded the operations of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC) across state commands nationwide. The partnership believes that real-time intelligence and operational readiness reside at the state and field-command levels. National oversight can only be effective if it is fed by the realities on the ground.
The MAAKFC’s state expansion initiative is a significant development in the country’s broader security architecture. National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba LAKA who launched the project with the training of officials of various law enforcement and intelligence officers from the 36 states of the federation, hailed the initiative as a pivotal step towards decentralising counter-kidnapping operations, linking national-level coordination directly with state-level law enforcement and intelligence units. He reiterated at the event that the project aims to build a seamless operational bridge between the Fusion Cell and state security structures; and that the integration will lead to more responsive early warning systems, faster intelligence dissemination, and enhanced tactical coordination during crisis situations.
The large presence of the law enforcement and security officers from the entire states, including those of the FCT at the one-week training among other representations across the federation, signals a broad-based support for the initiative. The participants were encouraged to contribute operational insights, highlight pressing challenges, and propose solutions that can be fed directly into the evolving framework of the Fusion Cell. There was also a strong call for sustained engagement beyond the event itself, with a reminder that enduring success depends on continuous inter-agency cooperation.
The state expansion initiative underscores the deepening security partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The UK Government and National Crime Agency have been instrumental in shaping the Cell’s structure, strategy, and training protocols.
The MAAKFC which was launched by the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in December last year, was established as a joint initiative between Nigeria’s NCTC and the UK’s NCA. Since its inception, the Cell has played a critical role in facilitating rescue operations, disrupting criminal networks, and improving intelligence-sharing across federal security agencies.
Kidnapping in Nigeria has undergone a troubling transformation. What once appeared as sporadic acts of criminality evolved into a highly organised, transnational enterprise. Armed groups and terrorist affiliates increasingly rely on kidnapping for ransom as a key source of funding, using extorted payments to acquire weapons, fund logistics, and expand territorial control. Criminal networks often exploit environments characterised by weak institutional coordination and pervasive fear. The proposed expansion project aims to systematically dismantle the operational infrastructure and concealment zones utilised by kidnappers and other criminal actors, and as well as regularly unsettling their activities.
As the Fusion Cell deepens its footprint across Nigeria’s states, hope is enlivened that the expanded network will serve as both shield and scalpel, protecting communities from abduction while dismantling the networks that profit from fear. The initiative is a mission that ensures that the anti-kidnap efforts move beyond reaction; it will be pre-emptive, coordinated, and results-driven.”
Michael is Head,
Department of Strategic Communication, NCTC-ONSA
