A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Ehilebo, has said that insecurity in Nigeria has increasingly evolved into a “commercial venture” for some actors, amid the country’s worsening cases of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime.
Ehilebo made the claim during an appearance on News Central’s Politics HQ on Friday, where he expressed concern over what he described as the growing monetisation of insecurity across the country.
He said the failure of successive governments to ensure accountability for perpetrators of violent crimes has created a cycle of impunity that continues to embolden criminal activities.
According to him, several high-profile abductions and attacks in Nigeria remain unresolved, a development he said has weakened public confidence in the justice system and security architecture.
He cited incidents such as the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Borno State and the Buni Yadi school attack, noting that those responsible were never brought to justice.
Ehilebo argued that insecurity in Nigeria has now taken multiple dimensions, with some cases driven by ideology while others are increasingly motivated by profit.
He said kidnapping, in particular, has become a financially driven enterprise involving not only armed groups but also collaborators within local communities.
According to him, the crime has in some cases been transformed into an “industry,” sustained by ransom payments and insider participation.
He also alleged that in a recent case, a senior government aide was reportedly involved in a self-kidnapping plot designed to extort ransom from authorities, a development he said reflects the depth of the crisis.
Ehilebo maintained that insecurity persists due to weak political will to prosecute offenders and dismantle organised criminal networks.
He warned that without stronger accountability mechanisms and decisive enforcement actions, the cycle of violence and abductions would continue to worsen across the country.
