The spate of kidnappings by bandits and other criminals across the country is alarming, and this has caused panic among Nigerians.
Some weeks ago, the nation’s capital, Abuja was hijacked by daredevil bandits who abducted six girls of the same family and killed one in the process of demanding ransom.
The incident was greeted with public outrage until the security agents rescued the remaining five ladies and reunited them with their family.
Similarly, kidnappers abducted some pupils, their teachers and bus driver and demanded N100 ransom for their release.
As security agencies have continued to do their best to protect the citizens, it is pertinent for the people to put up some measures that would protect them from being abducted.
In this article, there are five tips to reduce the dangers of being kidnapped by criminals.
Don’t expose yourself
It is very important that you do not expose yourself to kidnappers. This can be done by not discussing your personal life with strangers. Do not reveal your business, family or affluence on social media.
This will reduce the chances of kidnappers having a knowledge about you or your family. All these measures will ensure safety as it has been reported previously that kidnappers also gather information from those in one’s neighborhood.
Be informed about your area and destination
With the situation of insecurity in Nigeria, you must do proper checks before travelling to any part of the country. In the same vein, you must know what goes on in your neighbourhood to know when to go out.
Keep emergency numbers
It is important to keep emergency numbers like contacts of the Police that you can swiftly dial whenever you sense you are in danger of kidnappers or notice strange people or activities of criminals around you.
It is also important to memorise a few emergency numbers in case you lose your phone so that you can escape to a neighbourhood where you can use their phones to call.
Call attention of people when you notice danger
Anywhere you are in the part of the country, be observant and don’t be in isolation. Whenever you observe a danger, make efforts to attract the attention of people.
This action will scare away kidnappers or prevent them from carrying out their acts. You can scream for ‘help’ when you feel unsafe in public.
Don’t be predictable
When embarking on trips, take different roads all the time. Make sure you have different plans or modes of transport to explore.
Take alternative routes, use a different car, or get into a cab instead. This could throw off any kidnappers on your tail.
Don’t ply vulnerable roads
Some roads have become hotbeds of abductions and dens of kidnappers in Nigeria. It is advisable to ignore such roads to not fall victim of bandits and other criminals feasting on innocent people.
Other tips
As Nigerians, we believe in prayers, so don’t underestimate the power of prayers to avoid being a victim. Call on God to protect you and your family.
There are enemies among friends and families, so it is vital to maintain a moderate lifestyle. Don’t let people know a
To avoid being kidnapped, you should check your lifestyle. If you have been living loud, try to do it in moderation now by adorning not-too-expensive wears that announce you.
Another thing you must avoid is receiving phone calls that involve discussing money, especially huge sums. You risk attracting kidnappers to yourself whenever you discuss money in public.
Know your neighbours. To avoid living close to a potential kidnapper, get to know that person living close to you well.
Don’t get too close to a stranger or people that you don’t know. Do not share valuable information with them.
