Why Kidnappers Still Escape Tracking Despite NIN — NIMC DG

The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has explained why kidnappers and terrorists can still evade detection despite the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into Nigeria’s security framework.

According to Ireporter Online, Coker-Odusote disclosed that many criminal groups deliberately frustrate security efforts by using mobile phones and SIM cards belonging to their victims instead of devices registered in their own names, making it difficult for investigators to identify and track them.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the NIMC boss described the NIN as the foundation of Nigeria’s identity and security architecture but noted that criminals have devised strategies to conceal their identities and avoid detection.

She explained that in many kidnapping cases, abductors rely on the phones of those they have kidnapped, preventing security agencies from tracing calls or communications directly to the perpetrators.

Coker-Odusote also suggested that another possible reason some suspects remain outside the country’s identity database is the likelihood that certain kidnappers may not be Nigerians. She noted that one theory being considered is that such individuals could be brought into the country shortly before carrying out criminal operations, meaning they would not have been enrolled in Nigeria’s identity management system.

She, however, clarified that the suggestion was only one of several possible scenarios and should not be interpreted as a definitive conclusion.

Despite these challenges, the NIMC Director-General maintained that the NIN remains a critical tool for identity verification and supports criminal investigations, even as law enforcement agencies continue to confront evolving tactics adopted by criminal networks.

The National Identification Number is an 11-digit unique identity assigned to Nigerians and legal residents under the National Identity Management Commission Act of 2007. It serves as the country’s primary digital identity and is widely used for verification across government institutions and private sector services.

As part of efforts to strengthen national security and improve identity management, the Federal Government has made the linkage of SIM cards to the NIN compulsory to aid investigations and reduce crimes committed through telecommunications channels.

Beyond security applications, the NIN is also required for services such as passport processing, opening bank accounts, obtaining driver’s licences, and accessing various government programmes and public services.