Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has opened a new conversation on the origins of Nigeria’s escalating kidnapping crisis, stressing that the problem did not begin in the North and warning that no part of the country is immune. Speaking on Sunday Politics, Governor Sule painted a vivid picture of the anxiety gripping Nigerian governors over the country’s security challenges. He described the atmosphere at their recent meeting as tense, with leaders expressing frustration and fear over the rising wave of abductions across the nation. Sule highlighted a common tendency among Nigerians to forget past events quickly, making it easy to assign blame to certain regions. “We usually forget things very, very easily and are quick to point accusing fingers at others,” he said. The governor noted that the intensity of the discussion at the meeting reflected how deeply concerned state leaders are. “You needed to see the stress and tension at that meeting regarding insecurity. People raised their voices, showed anger, warned, and questioned if enough was being done. We even blamed ourselves for not doing enough,” he said. Pushing back against the popular belief that kidnappings originated in northern Nigeria, Sule traced the practice to the country’s oil-producing regions years before the North became a target. “Between 2003 and 2009, kidnappings were not happening in the North, but they were common in oil-rich areas,” he explained. Drawing on his experience in the oil and gas industry, Sule recalled how kidnappers frequently targeted foreign and local oil workers in the Niger Delta, making abductions a routine challenge for companies. He cited repeated incidents, including one involving Tetra Tech, which led staff to refuse returning to Nigeria. “One of them was kidnapped, and they decided not to come back,” he said, recalling how the crisis forced him to operate from Port Harcourt and Trans-Amadi for a time. Sule explained that these early abductions were largely financially motivated, with kidnappers demanding ransom from oil companies. The situation only began to ease during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration after negotiations aimed at reducing tensions over resource control and militancy. The governor warned against viewing kidnapping as a regional issue, emphasizing that such divisions only allow the crime to spread. “Kidnapping began in the South with oil workers, and the North assumed it was none of their business. Now it is a major problem in the North. All Nigerians must work together to eliminate kidnapping,” he said. Despite the growing security challenges, Sule expressed confidence that Nigeria would eventually overcome the menace. “Kidnapping has reached northern Nigeria, and while this is troubling, it will come to an end,” he concluded.
