metro
Kidnappers Now Using Banks to Receive Ransom Payments — Security Expert Raises Alarm
Kidnappers Now Using Banks to Receive Ransom Payments — Security Expert Raises Alarm
A security expert, Kabir Adamu, has raised fresh concerns over a growing trend in Nigeria where kidnappers now demand ransom payments through bank accounts instead of cash.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Adamu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, described the development as troubling and a sign of evolving tactics among criminal groups.
According to him, kidnappers previously relied on cash transactions or fintech platforms, but have now shifted to traditional banking systems. He revealed that his team has tracked multiple cases where ransom payments were successfully deposited into bank accounts and withdrawn, although he did not disclose the financial institutions involved.
Adamu warned that this shift raises serious questions about the effectiveness of banks’ transaction monitoring systems and their compliance with regulatory standards.
He acknowledged that Nigeria has made notable progress in strengthening its financial intelligence framework, particularly after its removal from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force. However, he stressed that enforcement remains a major challenge.
“A lot has been done in terms of policy, but there are still significant gaps in operations and compliance,” he said.
Data from SBM Intelligence highlights the scale of the crisis. The report shows that kidnapping for ransom generated at least ₦2.57 billion between July 2024 and June 2025. Within the same period, kidnappers demanded about ₦48 billion but received only a fraction of that amount.
The report further recorded 4,722 abductions across 997 incidents, with at least 762 fatalities, underscoring the severity of the security challenge.
Adamu also pointed to internal vulnerabilities within the banking sector. He noted that many banks rely heavily on contract staff—sometimes accounting for up to 70 percent of their workforce—who are often poorly paid and may not undergo thorough background checks. This, he said, increases the risk of compromise or collusion with criminal elements.
He emphasized that beyond policy improvements, there is an urgent need for stricter enforcement, enhanced monitoring systems, and stronger institutional accountability to safeguard the financial system.
The concerns come amid broader government efforts to tackle insecurity. In December, authorities officially designated kidnappers and other violent groups as terrorists, a move aimed at enabling security agencies to adopt tougher measures and treat kidnapping as a major national security threat rather than an ordinary criminal offence.
Kidnappers Now Using Banks to Receive Ransom Payments — Security Expert Raises Alarm
metro
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
Akure, Ondo State – In a brazen late-night raid, armed men abducted three health workers from a Primary Health Clinic in Ijebu, a suburb of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The security guard on duty, Olawale Yaya, told TVC News that the attackers executed the operation with alarming precision. According to him, the assailants arrived in a high-end SUV, which he identified as either a Toyota Venza or a Lexus. The vehicle was parked outside the clinic before the abduction.
“They took three staff members. The gunmen parked on the road. They came with an expensive jeep. It looks like a Toyota Venza or Lexus SUV. It’s not a small sedan car. It’s an SUV. It’s not a bus. It’s a high-end SUV. The gunmen even pressed a button to open the boot. After opening it, they forced the three people inside and drove off,” Yaya recounted.
The attackers specifically targeted staff members who were on duty, assaulting them before forcing them into the boot of their vehicle. The guard described the assailants’ familiarity with the vehicle as “disturbing,” noting how they effortlessly operated the automatic boot before making their escape.
Security agencies in the state have been alerted, and investigations are ongoing to locate the kidnapped health workers and apprehend the perpetrators.
How Gunmen Storm Akure Clinic, Abduct Three Health Workers
metro
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
A 33-year-old suya seller, Abubakar Isiaka, has made a passionate appeal to security agencies and members of the public to assist in locating his three-year-old daughter, who was abducted in Delta State.
The child, identified as Sheripha, aged three years and eight months, was reportedly taken on March 7, 2026, during a burial ceremony in Ogwashi-Uku.
According to the distraught father, the incident occurred amidst the gathering when an unidentified woman wearing a hijab allegedly lured the child away. The suspect reportedly took advantage of the busy environment to carry out the act without raising immediate suspicion.
Isiaka explained that all efforts to locate his daughter since the incident have been unsuccessful, leaving the family in deep distress. He noted that the sudden disappearance of the child has thrown the entire household into emotional turmoil.
“We have searched everywhere and asked around, but there has been no trace of her,” he said, pleading for urgent intervention from security operatives.
The case has reportedly been brought to the attention of relevant authorities, while local residents have also been urged to remain vigilant and report any useful information that could lead to the rescue of the child.
Members of the public with credible information have been encouraged to assist law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safe return of the young girl.
How Hijab-Wearing Woman Allegedly Abducts Suya Seller’s Daughter in Delta
metro
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, has died suddenly in the United States, sparking grief among the Catholic faithful in both Nigeria and abroad.
Fr. Oli reportedly slumped and passed away while taking a walk on Thursday, March 26, 2026. His death was confirmed in an official statement released on Friday, March 27, by the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
The statement, signed by the diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, disclosed that the late cleric was serving as the Administrator of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Faith, South Dakota, at the time of his passing.
“He was ordained on August 23, 2008. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. May the soul of Rev. Fr. Michael Oli rest in peace, Amen,” the statement read.
Further confirmation came from Scott Bullock, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, who described the priest’s death as sudden and deeply saddening.
In a message to clergy and faithful, Bishop Bullock stated that Fr. Oli died on the morning of March 26 and was serving as pastor of St. Joseph in Faith, St. Joseph in Mud Butte, and St. Anthony in Red Owl, all in western South Dakota.
The bishop revealed that local authorities have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the priest’s death. According to him, the Deputy Sheriff of Meade County has ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause.
“At this point, we do not know the cause of death, only that he had not been feeling well,” Bishop Bullock said.
He urged priests within the diocese to offer three Masses for the repose of Fr. Oli’s soul, in line with Catholic tradition.
The late priest’s sudden death has drawn condolences from parishioners, clergy, and members of the Catholic community, who have described him as a dedicated servant of God committed to pastoral service both in Nigeria and the United States.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the church authorities in due course.
Nigerian Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Oli, Dies Suddenly in US
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