Insecurity: Someone shared a story of how he was travelling to the eastern part of Nigeria for an event and then he landed in the hands of kidnappers.
He travelled from Enugu, got to the state at night, and boarded a cab to take him home.
The young man was the only passenger, and he sat at the back while the driver was obviously in front.
As he drove, they discussed about topics from politics to family and so on that the young man felt so relaxed with the driver.
The driver stopped at a fuel station after some time to buy fuel, and they continued.
When they got to her destination, he alighted, made payment, and stretched his hand to collect his balance.
The Shocker!
Upon stretching his hand, he saw a pistol pointed at her.
It was already dark, so the driver came down, pushed him into his car, and zoomed off to a secluded place.
He was beaten by his gang and robbed of his phone and life savings, then they threw him off a bridge into the river.
In a world of insecurity, especially in Nigeria, there are no sure ways to prevent a kidnap.
However, there are a few measures you can put in place to help you stay alert or rescue yourself in an emergency.
Avoid Late-night Movements
Although there is no specific time when evil perpetrators carry out their activities, they operate mostly at odd hours.
As much as you can, secure your safety by making all your movements during the day, especially when travelling long distances.
Phone Calls
As much as you can, keep updating your relatives or loved ones on your location while on the road.
If possible, arrange for someone to pick you up and carry you home from the park where you disembarked if you travelled a long distance.
Take note of the plate number of the vehicle you boarded and send it to your relatives.
In fact, take a picture of it before you board. That way, you let the driver know you are security conscious.
Tell them the colour of the car and the complexion of the driver if need be.
If you are prompted to even take a secret snapshot or video to ensure your safety, do so.
Be Vigilant
Don’t get so relaxed to the extent of being carried away.
Always be vigilant about your surrounding and body language of your driver.
Have You Read: What You Need To Know About Food Insecurity In Nigeria
Seat Position
If you order Uber, ensure you are seated in a position that enables you to watch the driver’s moves.
You can sit in the back seat adjacent to the driver so you can observe his calls, hand movements, body language, and so on.
Trust Your Instincts
Human beings are blessed to have an inner voice that speaks to them; some call it instincts; people of the Christian faith call it the “Holy Spirit”.
If, for whatever reason, you feel uncomfortable in your position and hear the voice telling you to do something, perhaps alight, run, or make a call, don’t hesitate, as it may just be the tiny action that would save your life.
Pray
Even after observing all the safety precautions, if you are a person of faith, pray to the one you believe in to guide you.
Some believe that the supernatural controls the physical.
Some Don’t Get So Lucky
The man in this story is alive to tell the story because he was rescued by a fisherman, but not everyone gets so lucky.
It’s sad that insecurity in the form of kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism is on the rise.
As a result, we must do our best to stay safe.
