By Ika Mirror
As Nigeria continues to battle an escalating wave of kidnappings often linked to criminal syndicates masquerading as herdsmen, a renowned cybersecurity expert, Engr. Christian Onyinye Ijeh, has unveiled a comprehensive technology-driven strategy aimed at bringing an immediate end to the menace.
Speaking during an exclusive security briefing, Engr. Ijeh stressed that the crisis is not rooted in ethnicity but in the rising sophistication of criminal networks exploiting the country’s vast “blind surveillance zones.” He maintained that Nigeria must shift from manpower-heavy, traditional security tactics to intelligence-led, technology-powered operations. According to him, advanced tools already in use globally can disrupt kidnapping rings, dismantle their communication systems, and neutralize forest hideouts — without tribal, religious, or political bias.
At the heart of his blueprint is the urgent deployment of AI-powered smart surveillance infrastructure, including high-resolution CCTV networks, thermal imaging cameras, and drone-mounted sensors positioned along highways, forest corridors, and border zones frequently exploited by kidnappers. He said 24-hour drone patrols transmitting real-time feeds to security command centres would eliminate blind spots currently enabling criminal movements.
Engr. Ijeh further recommended installing motion-activated forest sensors to detect unusual activity, alongside automated number-plate recognition systems to monitor vehicle movement across strategic routes. These technologies, he noted, would allow security agencies to track criminals before, during, and after attacks.
A major pillar of his proposal is the creation of a unified National Security Intelligence Database to integrate SIM registration records, National Identification Numbers, vehicle ownership data, border-crossing logs, drone surveillance feeds, and regional intelligence reports. Powered by artificial intelligence, the platform would detect criminal patterns, flag high-risk individuals, and generate predictive alerts within seconds. He emphasized that such a system must remain insulated from political interference to function effectively.
To bolster nationwide vigilance, Engr. Ijeh also proposed a digital geo-fencing network around major communities and forest regions. These virtual perimeters would issue instant alerts when unauthorized persons, vehicles, or mobile devices penetrate restricted areas, enabling rapid mobilization of military and police units.
Highlighting telecommunications data as a presently underutilized tool in combating kidnapping, he called for mandatory telecom geo-mapping, real-time SIM triangulation, and signal heat-mapping. These, he said, would enable security agencies to pinpoint kidnappers’ locations with precision, especially during ransom negotiations. “Every phone call leaves a digital trace,” he noted. “With the right tools, no kidnapper can remain hidden.”
To coordinate these operations, he recommended the establishment of National Anti-Kidnap Command Centres across the six geopolitical zones. Each centre would house drone pilots, digital forensics specialists, intelligence analysts, and rapid-response teams. They would be responsible for monitoring surveillance feeds, coordinating field operations, deploying strike units, and issuing real-time safety alerts to citizens — all under strict, round-the-clock accountability systems.
He also proposed deploying autonomous drone fleets to monitor forests, track suspicious movements, and identify illegal encampments, enabling security forces to dismantle hideouts swiftly and accurately.
Engr. Ijeh emphasized community participation as an essential component of national security. He called for the introduction of a public safety mobile application that would enable citizens to send emergency alerts, share real-time location data with security units, and anonymously report suspicious activities. This, he said, would significantly strengthen early-warning systems and deepen collaboration between the public and law enforcement agencies.
He concluded by warning against ethnic profiling in addressing insecurity, noting that while some kidnappers disguise themselves as herders, many herders remain peaceful and law-abiding. Security responses, he insisted, must be intelligence-based and focused on verifiable criminal activity. “Technology gives us the ability to track criminals through data, not assumptions,” he said.
Engr. Ijeh’s comprehensive plan provides Nigeria with a modern, actionable roadmap for ending kidnapping nationwide. By embracing advanced surveillance systems, robust data analytics, and synchronized national security frameworks, he believes the country can dismantle criminal networks faster than they evolve. He urged authorities to adopt a technology-centric approach, warning that continued reliance on outdated methods would only allow criminal syndicates to strengthen and expand their operations.
