In homes scattered across Nigeria, telephones have become symbols of both hope and terror. Every ring sends hearts racing. Every unknown number triggers fear. Every silent night stretches endlessly for families whose loved ones remain in captivity.

For parents whose children have disappeared into forests controlled by armed groups, for wives waiting for husbands who never returned from work, and for communities living under the shadow of abduction, the national debate over whether government should negotiate with kidnappers has become intensely personal. It is no longer merely a security conversation. It is a battle between hope and heartbreak.

Previously, the issue had resolved around demand for ransom by terrorists to which many families complied to save their loved ones in kidnappers’ den. Terrorists raked in billions as this became a source of huge revenue to finance their nefarious activities.

But this was not without its controversy as critics said it only encouraged more kidnappings and there was even a move in the National Assembly to impose punishment on families who paid ransom to kidnappers which was later dropped as it became obvious that the lack of capacity by the security forces to rescue captives was the main factor fueling ransom payment.

The situation has now moved to a situation whereby terrorists demand the release of top commanders and operatives captured and detained by security forces in exchange for hostages.

A video surfaced recently showing Mrs. Alani, the school principal kidnapped alongside teachers and schoolchildren in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, speaking directly to the public to clarify the demands of her abductors. In the clip which circulated on social media, Mrs. Alani pushed back against reports that their kidnappers asked for a ₦1 billion ransom or the introduction of Sharia law in Nigeria.

“These are not true. They are just trying to create problems for us,” she said, appearing calm but distressed. “We have been here since. We have not been forced to worship in Islamic way. They have not troubled us concerning that.”

According to her, the abductors have one demand: The release of their detained members by government.

“They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money. They are not asking for weapons. The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people,” she stated. “The government will negotiate with them and know those that they will release for them.”

Mrs. Alani expressed frustration over what she described as rumours complicating their situation. “I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us. Please, we are just begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives.”

She repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and counter what she called false narratives. “Nigerians, please help us to circulate this. Let it go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world. Our lives are in your hands.”

In a related development, kidnappers of a former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, and his wife listed their demands through the abductees who spoke in a video. The general and his wife were abducted along the Karaduwa-Matazu Road in Katsina State.

In a four-minute, two-second video circulated on social media, Rabe and his wife relayed the demands of their abductors, pleading with the government to meet them. Rabe’s wife, who did most of the talking, said the abductors were demanding the release of three of their members: Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru. She said while two of them were arrested in Jikamshi, Katsina State, the third was arrested in Kano State. They also demanded the return of the livestock allegedly seized from them.

She appealed to the Katsina State government and leaders of five local government areas in the state to facilitate compliance with the demands in order to secure their release.

The retired army general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, stating that the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence. He retired a few years ago after serving as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesman. He and his wife were on their way to Rabe’s hometown when terrorists captured them.

President Bola Tinubu sounded defiant while responding to the death of Rabe in captivity, vowing that government will never bow to the demand of the terrorists to release their members held by security agencies.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, stated:

“While the terrorists have done their worst, the President wants them to know that the government will never bow to their demand to release their members held by our security agencies. As I said on June 12: ‘Bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.’

These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. And no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians. As Nigerians, we must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.

General Abubakar’s death should further serve as a defining moment in our battle against terrorists and insurgents, never to negotiate with them on any terms, but to continue to treat them as the greatest enemies of our dear nation, who should never be spared.”

No fewer than 87 schoolchildren are presently in captivity after they were abducted by terrorists from their schools in Oyo and Borno states. Of the figure, 45 are from Oyo while 42 are from Borno.

Some teachers were also abducted by the terrorists in the Oyo incident. One of them, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, was later beheaded by the captors and the beheading posted on social media.

Apart from the three terrorists mentioned by the captors of Rabe in the video they posted on social media, Sunday Vanguard could not ascertain the number of captured insurgents in the custody of security agencies. But some have been prosecuted and convicted while the prosecution of other ones is ongoing.

Security dilemmas

Outraged security experts on the terrorists’ demand say Nigeria is confronting one of the most complex and emotionally charged security dilemmas in its history. The issue of swapping kidnapped schoolchildren with captured terrorists, according to them, has exposed the difficult choices facing government, while simultaneously revealing the deep fears, frustrations and exhaustion felt by citizens who have watched kidnapping evolve from an isolated criminal enterprise into a sophisticated and highly lucrative industry.

To a retired Commissioner of Police, Akika Austines, the situation has reached a dangerous stage.

“The kidnappers are desperate,” he told Sunday Vanguard. “And when you are dealing with desperate people, you must be prepared to take desperate measures to combat them.”

His words capture the mood of a nation grappling with a security challenge that many observers believe has outgrown conventional responses.

While public attention often focuses on ransom negotiations, military operations and political reactions, security experts insist that the emotional scars suffered by victims and their families receive far less attention. Technical Partner at Davijey Integrated Services Limited, Mr Job Inegbenijie, believes this hidden dimension deserves greater recognition.

“Nobody talks about the trauma,” he said. “They talk about the kidnapping itself. They talk about ransom. They talk about rescue operations. But they rarely talk about the trauma experienced by victims and their families.”

According to him, the psychological impact begins the moment abduction occurs and can continue long after victims regain their freedom.

“The trauma of being kidnapped and the trauma of being released after being kidnapped are two different battles. The victims carry those experiences with them for years. Families also suffer. Parents stop sleeping. Children become afraid. Entire communities live in fear.”

He explained that while government faces pressure not to negotiate with terrorists, it must also consider the human consequences of refusing demands.

“If government refuses to negotiate, there are consequences. If government negotiates, there are consequences as well,” he said. “These hostages are human beings. They are mothers, fathers and children. Their families are suffering every minute. People may accuse government of being insensitive if no effort is made to secure their release.”

Yet, he warned that conceding to terrorists’ demands could create even bigger security challenges.

“If government releases these individuals, it will encourage more kidnappings. Other groups will see kidnapping as an effective bargaining tool. It sends a message that if you abduct enough people, you can force government to release your members.”

According to Inegbenijie, the consequences of releasing detained terrorist operatives extend beyond the immediate crisis.

“The people being demanded are not ordinary criminals,” he said. “These are individuals who have been involved in recruitment, mobilisation, training and operational planning. Some have been linked to major attacks and high-profile kidnappings.”

He stressed that many of the operatives being demanded possess years of experience and knowledge that make them valuable assets to terrorist organisations.

“They understand logistics. They understand intelligence gathering. They understand weapons procurement. They understand how to recruit and train new members. Releasing them would strengthen the very networks government is trying to dismantle.”

He further warned that such a move could undermine the morale of security personnel.

“Think about the resources spent in tracking, arresting and prosecuting these individuals. Think about the officers who risked their lives. Think about the inter-agency collaboration that went into those operations. Then imagine releasing them back into the field. It would be deeply demoralising.”

Alarming developments

One of the most alarming developments, according to security experts, is the changing character of insecurity in Nigeria. Inegbenijie warned that the country is increasingly facing threats linked to wider regional and international networks.

“We have moved beyond localised criminal activities,” he said. “There is now an international dimension to what is happening.”

According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges have become more complicated because some criminal networks maintain links with extremist groups operating across Africa.

“We are dealing with individuals who have operated in conflict zones across the continent. Some of these people have experience from places where terrorism has become deeply entrenched.”

That evolution, he said, requires a corresponding evolution in Nigeria’s security response.

“We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results. The threat has changed. Therefore, our strategy must also change.”

Retired Commissioner of Police Akika Austines did not mince words while describing the gravity of the crisis.

“The situation is so bad,” he said repeatedly during the interview. “So bad that what used to be seen as a northern problem has spread across the country. Now everybody is worried because nobody feels completely safe anymore.”

According to him, the demands by kidnappers to secure the release of detained terrorists illustrate both the confidence and desperation of criminal groups.

“These are killers,” he said. “These are people who have committed heinous crimes in different parts of the country. Some are facing trial. Some have been arrested after years of effort by security agencies. For anybody to suggest that they should simply be released is very difficult to accept.”

Austines insisted that if he were in a position to decide, he would reject such demands.

“I don’t think it is possible. I don’t think I can do that myself if I were the President of this nation.”

However, he acknowledged the painful realities confronting government.

“The challenge is that children are involved. Innocent people are involved. That makes every decision extremely difficult.”

Perhaps Austines’ strongest warning was his assertion that kidnapping has transformed into a thriving criminal enterprise.

“Kidnapping has become a business,” he said. “It is no longer just a crime. It has become an organised business model.”

His frustration was evident as he described how criminal groups have built economic systems around abductions.

“You cannot imagine what is going on. Some people are expecting proceeds from kidnapping. Some people are making money from the suffering of innocent Nigerians.”

According to him, the growing profitability of kidnapping is one reason criminal groups continue to expand. “When criminals realise there is money to be made, they continue. They recruit more people. They buy more weapons. They become more organised.” He warned that releasing detained terrorists could worsen the situation.

“We would simply be recycling criminals. They go in, they come out, they go in again and come out again. That does not solve the problem.”

To the retired police commissioner, one solution stands out above all others: “We must police our forests.”

According to him, vast ungoverned forest areas have become safe havens for criminal gangs.

“We have forests everywhere that are not properly monitored. Criminals know this. They use those forests as bases. They hide there. They plan there. They keep victims there.”

Drawing comparisons with surveillance arrangements protecting oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta, Austines proposed the establishment of specialised forest-monitoring operations.

“We have organisations monitoring pipelines every day. Why can’t we have something similar monitoring forests?”

He advocated the use of helicopters, aerial surveillance and dedicated monitoring teams.

“Let them move around. Let them monitor all our forests. If they detect criminal activity, they should act immediately.”

According to him, forest guards alone may not be enough.

“Forest guards cannot do much without proper surveillance support. We need technology. We need aerial monitoring. We need intelligence.”

We do not have enough policemen

Another challenge, Austines noted, is manpower. “The truth is that we do not have enough policemen.”

According to him, Nigeria’s security demands have far exceeded the capacity of existing personnel. “There are too many communities, too many roads and too many forests for the number of officers we currently have.”

He therefore called for innovative approaches, including drawing on the expertise of retired security personnel.

“In America, they have reservists. They call them when necessary. We should have something similar. There are many retired officers who are still strong, experienced and willing to serve. Their knowledge should not be wasted.”

Beyond weapons and surveillance systems, Austines identified another issue he believes contributes significantly to insecurity.

“We need to be more patriotic as a people,” he said.

According to him, ethnic, religious and regional loyalties often undermine national security efforts.

“People are too focused on ethnic and religious affiliations. Sometimes criminals receive sympathy simply because they belong to a particular group.”

He argued that citizens must begin to see security as a collective national responsibility.

“Let us see ourselves first as Nigerians. Once we do that, it becomes easier to confront those who threaten our country.”

Deputy State Commander (Operations) of the Lagos State Vigilante Command, Ayede Santos, also speaking, emphasised the importance of citizen participation.

“Security should be everybody’s business,” he said. “When you see something, you should say something.”

According to Santos, intelligence gathering remains one of the most effective tools for preventing crime.

“Criminals move through communities. People often see suspicious activities but fail to report them. If information reaches security agencies on time, many crimes can be prevented.”

He stressed the importance of collaboration among vigilantes, hunters, community leaders, police officers and military personnel.

“Community policing works because local people understand the terrain and know the communities better than anyone else.”

Security expert, Dr Timi Ajayi, equally weighed in, believing the current situation reveals both the operational strength and ideological ambitions of terrorist groups.

“The demand for prisoner exchanges indicates that those being requested are highly valuable operatives,” he said. “The fact that the group is willing to risk international attention and pressure for their release shows how important these individuals are.”

Ajayi warned that releasing them could allow terrorist networks to regroup and become even more dangerous.

“They would likely return with new strategies, new lessons and renewed determination.”

Yet he acknowledged the human cost of refusing negotiations.

“If government refuses and the hostages are harmed, there will be outrage and criticism.”

For him, the solution lies in stronger intelligence-driven operations rather than reactive responses.

“What are needed are political will, operational efficiency and strategic execution.”

As security experts continue to debate policies and strategies, thousands of families remain trapped in painful uncertainty. For them, every passing day feels like an eternity. They are not thinking about security doctrines, counter-terrorism theories or political calculations.

They are thinking about loved ones—a mother waiting for her child, a husband praying for his wife. Parents desperately hoping to hear a familiar voice again, their stories reveal the true cost of Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis. Behind every headline is a family struggling to hold on to hope.

And as the nation wrestles with the difficult choice between negotiation and deterrence, one reality remains painfully clear: until kidnapping is decisively defeated, countless Nigerians will continue living between fear and faith, heartbreak and hope. (Vanguard)