The current economic downturn in our country seems to be having a multiplier effect in criminal activities – an upsurge in kidnap for money, armed robbery, cybercrime and general insecurity. Many people have lost their jobs, and businesses have collapsed. The price of goods and foodstuff in the market have doubled, if not tripled.
Kidnapping for money in our country is now a daily phenomenon and is said to be under-reported. To give us an idea of the trend in abductions in our country, just a few days ago, a woman was reportedly kidnapped and later rescued.
The following are comprehensive personal security and safety measures to ward off being kidnapped or to survive a kidnapping incident:
Survival Tips For Kidnapped Victims
If you find yourself kidnapped, it is not the end of the world, there’s a good chance you will regain your freedom. Sometimes, what leads to harm or death is not necessarily the incident itself but how people respond to it.
1. It is risky to play James Bond or re-enact Hollywood movie scenes – if you know the kidnappers are well-equipped, outnumber you, and you indeed cannot extricate yourself. The best approach is passive cooperation.
2. Sure, you can throw furtive glances, but seldom stare too strongly to give the impression you are trying to recognize them.
3. Refrain from panicking, and slow down your heart beat.
4. If you are not blindfolded or sedated, try to figure out your location or the routes they took and estimate approximately how long it took to arrive where you were taken to.
5. Try to establish rapport, engage your abductors in small talk, Hopefully, they will not be too hard on you but will see you as a human being rather than a hostage cash cow. Kidnappers tend to show some compassion if you share a common interest with them, it could be politics, religion, football, etc.
6. It is very important to find a way to let your kidnappers know about any special medical conditions you may have.
7. Maintain your mental, physical health, dignity, and self-respect and keep hope alive. Convince yourself deep in your mind that you will survive the incident.
8. Stay alert! It is possible you can escape if there’s a slip-up or they are very careless. The chance of surviving a kidnapping incident is high, especially if one survives the initial situation. Again, kidnappers tend to let their guard down or become careless if the victim exhibits no signs of trying to escape. Not advocating foolhardiness, but it’s a bad idea to do a Usain Bolt if ample opportunity beckons.
Remain alert to any areas that might present a threat of criminal activity such as smash-and-grab., Always place your valuables in the boot of your car and never leave items such as cell phones and wallets in open sight, unattended, or on the seat of a car. In light of the magnitude of crime and lawlessness on our roads, we believe it would be important to emphasize the importance of Defensive Driving as well!
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