How to avoid being kidnapped — Security expert

The President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has advised Nigerians to increase their security alertness in the face of rising incidence of kidnapping. Ekhomu, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH,
stated that recent incidents have shown that “kidnapping is back in full force,” therefore, people ought to become more alert and discerning to protect themselves from being kidnapped.
He said, “Government needs to do more in
terms of detecting and punishing kidnappers,
such that the severity of the punishment would
deter others from becoming engaged. What
happens now is they kidnap people, get their
ransom money and enjoy it. They have become
big men. If people are punished, may be by
losing their lives, they would conclude that it
is not worth it.
“There must be enforcement and punishment
that can deter people. The criminal justice
system must work. The reason kidnapping is
lucrative in Nigeria is impunity; people think
they can do it, get away with the crime and
enjoy their loot. No criminal enterprise is
going to go away when it’s lucrative. It’s the
fear of punishment that keeps people from
crime.”
Giving tips on how people can prevent
themselves from being kidnapped, Ekhomu,
who is the Chairman, School of Management
and Security, said the most important thing
was realising that there was the risk of being
kidnapped.
He said, “We need to know that these risks are
there and that the bad guys are seizing people.
We need to be wary as individuals. When
people have this euphoric attitude that nothing
can happen, that is in fact when they become
victims. People should just be a little cautious
these days.
An isolated target is easier to pick up. It is
better for people to be strengthened by being
in groups. Hostage takers would have to work
harder to kidnap members of a group, than to
kidnap an individual.”
Ekhomu added that Nigerians can learn from
the kidnapping of human rights lawyer, Mr.
Mike Ozekhome, where the kidnappers
mounted a roadblock, which resulted in a pile
of cars on the road.
He said, “From any distance, you can see at
least 200 or 300 metres down the road. When
you see cars piled up like that on the road and
they seem to be in distress with no obvious
police presence, you should turn around.
“Not many big men really care to train their
drivers in defensive or security driving. Your
driver has to learn this to enable him to save
you when there is an incident. Also everyone
should know save havens in their area, like
police stations, army barracks and places you
can run to when you are in distress.”
He added that it was not wise to drive straight
into ones residence when one notice a
reasonable number of strangers, especially
young men, gathered near the entrance of the
person’s house.