…Expands Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell Nationwide
By Nkechi Eze
In a bold and strategic move to curb the rising menace of kidnapping in Nigeria, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), in collaboration with the United Kingdom Government, has launched a nationwide State Expansion Programme for the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MACFC). The initiative, which builds on the success of the central Fusion Cell inaugurated in December 2024, marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s national security architecture, one that seeks to decentralize intelligence coordination and integrate state-level responses into a unified national framework.
For years, kidnapping for ransom has evolved from isolated criminal acts into a widespread and deeply organised threat, one that fuels terrorism, destabilises communities, and drains public confidence in state institutions. With kidnappers operating across state lines and exploiting porous information channels, security experts have long called for an integrated, multi-level response. The MACFC State Expansion Programme, officially opened this week in Abuja, represents a significant answer to that call.
In his keynote address, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, underscored the urgency of the threat and the collaborative resolve to combat it.
“Kidnapping has become a primary revenue stream for armed and terrorist groups, it is now a systematic criminal economy, and it thrives where coordination is weak. The Fusion Cell was designed to correct this, and today, we take it to the next level by integrating state commands directly into our national response architecture.”
He emphasized that while national coordination is vital, real-time intelligence and operational readiness often reside within local commands. The State Expansion Programme, he explained, aims to bridge that gap, strengthening early warning systems, synchronizing field operations, and improving response time across Nigeria.
“This programme is not just a meeting, it is a mission,” Laka declared. “It is about ensuring that no community is held hostage by fear, and no family lives under the threat of abduction.”
“This is the primary purpose of this programme: to close the gap between national-level coordination and state-level response. Essentially, to build direct operational linkages between the Cell and state commands across the Country.” He stated.
Also present at the launch was Her Excellency Gill Lever OBE, the United Kingdom’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, who offered strong support for the initiative and underscored the UK’s enduring partnership with Nigeria through the Security and Defence Partnership framework.
In her remarks, Lever hailed the MACFC as a critical product of the deep trust and mutual respect between both nations, noting that the UK’s role has been to support, not impose, a solution.
“The MACFC was officially launched in December last year, and its role is to provide support to the Nigerian Police Force and DSS Kidnap Response Units across all states,” she said. “The model we’re supporting is tailored for Nigeria, not a UK template, but something grounded in Nigeria’s needs, built in full consultation with Nigerian stakeholders.”
She praised the work of Mr. Chris Grimson of the UK’s National Crime Agency, for his tireless support in helping to build an interoperable, data-driven framework for Nigeria’s kidnap response strategy.
Lever explained that this week’s State Expansion Programme would train kidnap response commanders from every Nigerian state in the use of the MACFC’s IT case management system, give them real-time access to the central Fusion Cell in Abuja, and provide critical skills in line with the United Nations Kidnap Management Manual. These measures, she said, will improve the quality of data, enhance state-to-state collaboration, and produce “a joint effect greater than the sum of their parts.”
She also revealed plans for future phases of the MACFC programme, including the integration of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line into the kidnap response system, allowing citizens to quickly report incidents without relying on informal phone networks and a forthcoming public awareness campaign focused on prevention and citizen engagement in kidnap-prone areas.
“Kidnapping is not just a security issue, it’s a social trauma,” Lever stated. “It destabilizes families, damages mental health, retards economic progress, and shakes public trust. This initiative is about changing that reality, together.”
In an emotional moment, the UK envoy offered her condolences to the people of Jigawa State following a tragic kidnap incident in which victims were murdered even after ransom payments. “This is what we want to stop,” she said somberly. “And we will stop it with your leadership, your expertise, and your cooperation.”
As the multi-day training and strategy sessions continue in Abuja, participants drawn from the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and other law enforcement bodies have been encouraged to share their field experiences, propose practical reforms, and commit to ongoing collaboration beyond the programme.
According to Gen. Laka, the long-term vision is clear: a Nigeria where no family fears the worst when a loved one goes missing, and where kidnap syndicates can no longer thrive on fragmented responses and siloed intelligence.
With the rollout of the MACFC State Expansion Programme, Nigeria inches closer to that vision, a vision built on cooperation, technology, and the courage to confront one of its most insidious internal threats.
