By Tolu Meduna
There was a time in Nigeria when “419” (financial crime) was not just a criminal activity; it had become a culture. Advance-fee fraud had seeped into the fabric of society to such an extent that many perpetrators operated openly. They maintained offices, drove luxury cars, and were known within their communities. In some circles, it was even regarded as a legitimate means of livelihood rather than a crime.
Then came a decisive intervention.
The establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under President Olusegun Obasanjo marked a turning point in the nation’s fight against financial crime. While 419 was not completely eradicated, it ceased to be an openly accepted occupation. Society gradually began to view it for what it truly was, a crime. More importantly, there was broad national consensus that something had to be done.
The success of that intervention was not merely because a new agency was created. It was because Nigerians, across political, ethnic, and religious divides, largely agreed that the menace was damaging the country’s image and future. The solution was not perfect, but it worked because the problem was collectively acknowledged.
Today, Nigeria faces another endemic threat: kidnapping.
Unlike the era of 419, however, the country appears deeply divided on how to confront this menace. Every proposed solution is quickly filtered through political lenses. Security challenges are often interpreted through the prism of political affiliations, ethnic sentiments, or regional interests rather than the urgent need to protect lives.
This politicisation has become one of the greatest obstacles to defeating kidnapping.
No security architecture, no matter how sophisticated, can succeed without public co-operation and national unity. Intelligence gathering depends on communities. Law enforcement depends on trust. Security agencies depend on citizens who are willing to report suspicious activities without fear or bias.
When society becomes polarised, criminals thrive.
Kidnappers do not care about political parties, religion, or ethnicity. Their victims come from every segment of society. Yet discussions around insecurity frequently descend into blame games, accusations, and political point-scoring. In the process, attention shifts away from the real enemy.
The lesson from the fight against 419 is clear: national problems require national consensus.
Whatever structural reforms the government proposes, whether improved intelligence systems, stronger law enforcement, community policing, technological surveillance, or judicial reforms, such measures can only achieve lasting results if Nigerians unite behind the objective of eliminating the menace.
Kidnapping should be treated as a national emergency, not a political tool.
Just as Nigerians once collectively rejected the normalisation of 419, the nation must now reject every attempt to normalise, excuse, or politicise kidnapping. Criminality should never be defended because it occurs in one region or another, nor should insecurity become a weapon in political battles.
The fight against kidnapping cannot be won by government alone. It requires a societal consensus that enough is enough.
History has shown that when Nigerians unite against a common threat, progress is possible. The challenge before us today is whether we are willing to rise above our divisions and confront kidnapping with the same collective determination that once pushed 419 from the mainstream into the shadows.
Until that happens, every solution will struggle to achieve its full potential.
National unity remains our strongest weapon against a crime that threatens the very foundation of our society.
Tolu Meduna is a Policy Communications and Social Impact Consultant.