South-West Nigeria Kidnappings Driven by Profit, Not Religion: Ex-Minister

Former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), has asserted that the wave of kidnappings and terrorism plaguing Nigeria's South-West region is fundamentally a "business" venture. He characterized the criminal activities as profit-driven, distinct from any territorial ambitions or religious ideologies.

Olanrewaju's statement directly challenges prevailing narratives that often attribute the security challenges in the region to ethnic conflicts or religious extremism. By framing kidnapping as a lucrative enterprise, he suggests that the perpetrators are motivated primarily by financial gain rather than political or ideological objectives.

This perspective implies that addressing the crisis requires a focus on dismantling the financial networks supporting these criminal operations. It shifts the understanding of the problem from a socio-political or religious conflict to one rooted in organized crime seeking economic exploitation.

The former minister's view offers a critical lens through which to examine the ongoing security situation, emphasizing the economic incentives behind the violence and suggesting that solutions may need to target the financial underpinnings of these illicit activities.