The United Kingdom National Crime Agency has reaffirmed t Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in tackling kidnapping and organised crime, reports thegazellenews.com.
The International Liaison Officer of the UK National Crime Agency, Matt Mountain, made this disclosure during the inauguration of the Second Edition of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell State Expansion Programme and Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja.
The week-long programme, which runs from July 6 to July 10, brings together representatives of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as international partners, including the British High Commission, to assess progress, review operational procedures and strengthen Nigeria’s response to kidnapping.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, 9 July 2026 by the Head of Strategic Communication of NCTC-ONSA, Abu Michael.
The statement quoted Mountain commending Nigerian security agencies for what he described as their professionalism, courage and dedication despite increasingly complex operational challenges.
“Effective kidnap response begins at the state level, where initial intelligence, operational decisions and engagement with victims’ families often occur, ” Mountain said, just he also added that strengthening collaboration between state commands and the Multi-agency Anti-kidnapping Fusion Cell would enable “faster intelligence-sharing, improved operational coordination, enhanced support to victims’ families and greater success in rescuing victims and bringing offenders to justice.”
The UK official further pledged continued support for Nigerian-led security initiatives.
“The UK remains committed to supporting Nigerian-led initiatives through practical cooperation, professional exchange and capacity building, while respecting Nigeria’s leadership in addressing its security challenges,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Intelligence, Brig. Gen. Gbor, said kidnapping had become not only a public safety concern but also a major source of funding for terrorist and organised criminal groups.
He noted that the Fusion Cell, operationalised on December 19, 2024, by the National Security Adviser, had become a critical platform for integrating intelligence, coordinating responses and providing advanced technical support to security agencies.
