A Must Read For EVERYONE: Security Tips Against Kidnapping

Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, is certainly under siege, as kidnapping is fast spreading to every state in the federation.

In the last four months, there has been an explosion in the incidence of kidnapping in several parts of the country.

The allure of robbery as the ultimate crooked money-spinner is fast giving way to kidnapping, reason being that robbers often have to slug it out with the police and could get killed anytime. But kidnappers are faceless and induce fear in the families of their hapless victims to unlock their pockets.

Kidnapping has spread beyond the South-south and South-east, where it was rampant some years ago, to the South-west and northern parts of the country.

Here some security tips against kidnapping:

• Keep emergency numbers with you at all times. You can create speed dial numbers in your mobile phone just in case you find yourself in a very compromising situation.
• Do not give away any personal information such as our phone numbers and home address, especially on social networking websites or to persons unknown to you.
• Watch what and where you speak, especially on the phone. A lot of people have no sense of security while speaking, and could end up bragging yourself into being kidnapped and asked to pay a ransom.
• Be alert to suspicious and unusual behaviour around you.
• Be discrete in your philanthropic gestures as this could make you a target.
• Do not discuss financial matters in open places and not even in the car or within the hearing of your domestic staff.
• Do not leave your children in a car unattended, particularly while shopping, refueling or on social outings.
• Avoid going out alone.
• Schools should install CCTV in the school surroundings to monitor activities in and around the premises especially at opening and closing times.