It is constitutional for governments to protect residents but that is not practicable everywhere and every time. So, individuals and organizations have to take proactive steps that among other objectives, deter, detect and delay crime while law enforcement agencies are awaited to perform their constitutional role of protection. But those steps can only be taken with proper understanding of the kidnap and assassination threats.To that end, kidnapping can be defined as detaining a person by force against his or her will. It's traumatic and understandably, impacts both victim and acquaintances negatively. Even after humiliating political or bankrupting financial concessions, a victim's safety is not guaranteed. In fact, after concessions, only 40% of prolonged kidnap victims are uninjured or not dead according to Control Risks of London. All that calls for proactive threat mitigation plans.Although initially associated with political extremism, kidnapping took on economic dimension by 1999 with a 40% leap in victim haul skyrocketing global annual ransom to $500 million. Hence kidnapping is now largely for economic reasons and neither the scourge of failed or failing states nor are the victims restricted to particular socio-economic brackets. Rather, all - including politicians, business tycoons, performing artists, topflight civil servants, expatriates, clergymen, etc. and their associates are now at risk.On the other hand, assassination or targeted killing as homicide, is carried out by a crime target's business or political rivals for a competitive or political edge. Besides national causal factors, the negative fallouts of globalization including relaxed international borders and InfoTech enhanced anonymity for criminals, are making assassination or targeted killing wide-spread.But as both the kidnap and assassination threats follow identifiable steps to succeed, it is possible to proactively focus on the "how" rather than the "who" to pre-empt pending attacks. Even where a target unfortunately falls victim of kidnapping in particular, prior enlightenment would hone his or her survival instincts to neutralize the destructive power of morbid fear - a captive's worst enemy. So, be proactive! Read this book now and not later.
About the Author: Mr. John Uwaya is the author of "Security Awareness: An Imperative and The Urgency" - the world's definitive book on the urgency of the moment - security awareness. For that book, he made the 2018 finalists' list for Outstanding Security Performance Award. Postgraduate studies at the University of Lagos and professional training apart, Mr. Uwaya interacts with peers at global security organizations including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), European Security Group, African Security Studies Group, International Counter Terrorism Officers Association, Israel Homeland Security, Physical Security Managers, Executive Protection Network and ASIS International among others. And over the years, his practical experience has grown by partnering global security firms that have included Texas Armoring Corporation of USA, D-Fence Electronic Fencing & Security Systems Ltd of Israel, Crewshield Ltd of England and Gaffco Ballistics LLC of USA. Also, apart from peer reviewed publications and public lectures, Mr. Uwaya's views on the subject matter of security are aired by the global print and electronic media; and this book is part of his public enlightenment efforts. He is presently based in Lagos, Nigeria.