When Compassion Is Exploited -By Keturah Joab

Kidnapping has become one of the most painful realities confronting Nigerians today, turning ordinary lives into stories of fear, desperation, and uncertainty. Almost every week, another family is thrown into anguish as they struggle to save a loved one taken by criminals who see human life as nothing more than a bargaining chip. Yet in the middle of this darkness, Nigerians continue to show extraordinary compassion raising money, offering prayers, and standing with strangers in their most difficult moments. But when that compassion is mocked and exploited, as seen in the case of the abducted NYSC corps member Abba, it raises a troubling question about how much suffering a nation can endure.

In a country where hardship has become familiar, Nigerians still prove every day that compassion has not died. When news broke that Abba, a young NYSC corps member, had been abducted, people did what they have always done in moments of crisis they came together. Families, friends, and even strangers who had never met him contributed what they could, hoping that their kindness would bring a son back to his family.

For many, it was not just about Abba. It was about imagining their own brother, son, or friend in the same situation.But what happened next cut deeply into the nation’s fragile hope.

After the ransom was raised and paid, the abductors refused to release him. Instead, they released another video demanding even more money. In a moment that felt cruel beyond words, they even flaunted the ransom before the public  almost as if the suffering of an entire community meant nothing.

More so Moments like this do more than hurt families. They shake people’s faith in humanity. They make communities feel helpless and afraid, because behind every ransom demand and every disturbing video is a real human being. A son whose mother cannot sleep,.a brother whose siblings wait anxiously for his return, likewise afriend whose absence leaves a painful silence.

In today’s news story Kidnapping statistics often dominate headlines, but numbers do not capture the sleepless nights, the whispered prayers, or the trembling hope that loved ones cling to.Can we called these compassion in a Climate of Fear? For families, crowdfunding is rarely a calculated decision,it is often the last option when time is running out. With limited state support and slow rescue mechanisms, relatives turn to the only tool within immediate reach the crowd.

In many instances, online fundraising works  It’s mobilizes solidarity and t proves that strangers care. It restores hope, but this  hope carries consequences, When ransom payments become predictable and publicly coordinated, kidnapping risks transforming from a violent crime into a structured revenue system,Criminals observe trends, because they see how quickly funds can be mobilized. They adjust demands accordingl.

Now let’s look at the  Psychological Toll on Society.Beyond financial implications, the emotional impact on society is profound. Social media feeds are saturated with hostage videos, threats from abductors, and countdowns to ransom deadlines. Fear is amplified. Trauma is shared collectively.These constant cycle of abduction and fundraising creates a psychological environment where insecurity feels routine. Over time, what should provoke national outrage becomes disturbingly familiar.

Also the country faces a Moral Dilemma Without Easy Answers, the ethical tension is undeniable,when a loved one’s life hangs in the balance, abstract debates about long-term consequences mean little, making Families to do whatever it takes.

Yet, on a broader scale, sustained crowdfunding of ransom payments may embolden kidnappers and undermine security efforts aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

The solution is not to condemn desperate families. Rather, it is to demand stronger institutional responses  effective intelligence gathering, rapid rescue operations, victim support systems, and policies that reduce the financial incentive for abduction.

Therefore a nation cannot truly grow while its people live in constant fear. Development means little when ordinary citizens must crowdsource ransom money just to save a life. What people long for is not extraordinary   it is simple: safety, justice, and the assurance that their lives truly matter.

This is the moment when silence must end. Government authorities, security agencies, and community leaders must act with urgency and determination. Kidnapping cannot continue to be treated as a normal part of life. Stronger security operations, accountability, and real protection for citizens must become a priority, not a promise repeated after every tragedy.

But the responsibility does not stop with the government alone. Communities must strengthen vigilance, report suspicious activities, and stand together against the networks that enable these crimes.

A society that allows its people to live in fear is a society that slowly loses its soul,Abba’s story and the stories of many others like him  should not simply pass through the news cycle and be forgotten. It must become a wake-up call. Nigeria must choose a different future one where compassion is not exploited, where families do not beg for the lives of their loved ones, and where every citizen can live without the shadow of fear,until that day comes, we must keep speaking, keep demanding action, and keep reminding those in power that every life matters.

May God protect the innocent, comfort families carrying this unbearable pain, and bring an end to this suffering.