You wake up one day and find yourself in the hands of kidnappers doing outrageous things to you in preparation for rituals in the name of quick money. What will you do?

Kidnapping has become one of the key issues affecting many families and disturbing the peace of the country since the year begun.

Many questions have been posed to the Ghana security agencies and the Government for the lack of effective security measures.

Recent kidnappings show that these kidnappers are in town, ready to capture anyone they come across for their so-called “rituals” especially in isolated places.

Without any idea of what kidnapped children and the old go through during and after their kidnap, many of us still fold our arms without any care for the little child walking on the streets alone in isolated places.

Let me give you the benefit of the doubt of what happens to those lucky to be reunited with their families during and after their abduction.

A victim of the Takoradi string of kidnappings is still struggling to recover from the ordeal 5 months after she was found.

The 18 year old senior high school student was abducted on 17, August 2018, she was found almost 24 hours later by the road side with portions of her hair cut for suspected ritual purposes.

In a documentary by Joy News, and Accra-based TV station, it was obvious that though she had been found, she was not in a right frame of mind. She hardly speaks for days and had to put her ordeal in writing.

Some are lucky to have returned and others go through tremendous torture till they are rescued or death snatches them from this wicked world.

This is why, you as an individual, need to be on guard and be your brother’s keeper.

Statistics on 2018 kidnappings cases

According to the Ghana Police, 64 kidnapping cases were reported last year, with 23 true cases of kidnapping, and 28 of the reported cases being abduction cases.

These statistics show that the kidnappers will still take away as many as they can if you and I do not talk about the strangers that pose these threats in our communities.

According to the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mr George Tweneboah, 23 victims of kidnapping out of the total number of 64 cases reported in 2018 have been rescued.

Highest regional kidnappings

The Ghana Police Service stated that Accra recorded the highest kidnap cases with one victim rescued and no suspect arrested for the rest of the 28 cases recorded.

Eastern Region 2nd with 6 recorded cases of 7 kidnapped victims found and three suspects arrested while one remains in police custody for interrogation.

The rest followed in that order: The Western Region recorded 5 cases with 4 of the victims rescued and one suspect arrested. Tema and the Brong Ahafo recorded 4 cases. The officials in Tema were able to rescue 2 victims and arrested one suspect. Brong Ahafo also found 2 victims with 4 arrested suspects.

Ashanti region & Central Region recorded 2 cases. Ashanti Region rescued 3 of its victims with 3 arrested suspects, and one jailed for 10 years on the case. Central Region found 2 of its victims with no suspect arrested on the case.

In the Upper West region, 4 cases were recorded with no victims found and no suspect arrested. Upper East recorded one case of kidnapping, one victim found with no suspects arrested.

Fortunately, the Northern Region recorded no cases of kidnapping.

2019 Statistics

According to Ghana Police Service, this year recorded the highest kidnapped case ever in the country. In January, the Volta Regional Police in Ho reported a case of kidnapping involving a 17 year old lady who was later found at Afloa and was reunited with her family.

In the same month, a first-year student of Tarkwa Senior High School was also kidnapped after she signed an exeat from school to visit home.

A one-year-old boy was allegedly stolen at the Takoradi market and details of how he was rescued remain sketchy.

In the same month, a student in Kasoa was kidnapped and released after parents of the victim payed a sum of GHS500.

Past attitude to personal security

According to a 54yr old teacher of the Sokode EP primary in the Volta Region, Mrs Alegbe Elizabeth, in the past, parents and neighbours were responsible for every child in the community. Be it a relative or otherwise.

Unlike today, many are so glued to either their mobile phones or work without observing what goes on around the society.

Who is next?

Kidnappers are smart and always observant, targeting the most vulnerable from the community especially in isolated places.

No one knows who could be the next victim.

Observation

According to a research consultant Linus Tannor, it has been observed that most of the kidnapped victims are girls, which he thinks should make the authorities sit up.

“If young girls are getting kidnapped since last year then this year, Ghanaians need to arise. Let’s bring back our girls and stop these kidnappers,” he cautioned.