The past few months have been one of Nigeria’s bloodiest with kidnapping posing more threat than terrorism and Banditry.
In fact, Kidnapping has become such a huge threat that many are wondering how to not fall victims.
Heritage Times presents 10 tips to help you protect yourself and your family from abductors.
1. Erase the notion that you can’t be kidnapped
over-confidence had made a lot fall victims of kidnappers, when you develop the euphoric attitude that nothing can happen, that is when you become victim, you must always be cautious and vigilant.
2. Avoid Showing Off on social media
Be careful not to reveal too much about yourself or your family members via social media. No need to flaunt new cars, houses, or condominium units.
Never reveal addresses and be sure to turn off the GPS function on your smartphones. Don’t post on social media the places you frequent. Some people are unaware that Facebook and other sites reveal the specific location from where you are posting on social media.
3. Keep Your Financial Transactions Confidential
Kidnappers are known to take people forcefully in order to demand for a ransom. They give conditions for the release of their captures, sending panic to the family and friends of the victims.
The most logical way to avoid these unnecessary attentions is not to reveal your financial history to anyone! Vital information like your bank statement of account should not be handled carelessly.
4. Avoid Isolation
An isolated target is easier to kidnap than when in group, avoid walking on a lonely road alone and if you must trail the road make sure it’s in the company of trusted people. Hostage takers would need to work extra hard to kidnap members of a group.
5. Don’t get too close to a stranger
Try not to share valuable information with those you don’t know. That stranger may be a kidnapper in disguise so avoid strictly any stranger that tries to move close to you unnecessarily.
6. Avoid Driving High Value Cars At Night
High value cars are very easy to identify, so if you have one, make sure you aren’t driving late in the night. Kidnappers are selective in their choice of victims. They target people they assume can afford the ransom they are asking for.
7. Avoid Repeated Pattern of Activities
Avoid repeated routines at the same time every day so as not to become predictable. Frequently visited locations should be routed differently, avoid eating at the same restaurant at a particular time of the day, consider changing hotels, avoid walking straight to your house if you notice some irregularities.
8. Keep emergency numbers
It is important to keep emergency numbers like contacts of Police that you can quickly call whenever you sense you are being monitored by kidnappers or you notice anything strange in your environment.
9. Careful of Transportation
Take buses and taxis at legitimate parks and avoid taxis with passenger(s) already in the car as this could be a tricky conspiracy. Avoid trips to rural and unfamiliar areas if new to the environment, and if compulsory, don’t go alone and inform trusted friends, relatives, or colleague about your where about and when expected to return.
10. Pray to avoid being a victim
At this critical phase, no one is safe. Hence, seeking God’s refuge appears to be the only way out in terms of spiritual protection.
For the victims and their families and friends, the consequences are even more frightful, and that is why one must pray to avoid being a victim.
