I would hear the terrorists speak on phone telling their callers that they should come to Rijana,” Ali said. Political Calculations and Perverse IncentivesThe persistence of Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis cannot be understood without examining the political dimensions of ransom payments. “Kidnapping is a for-profit enterprise in Nigeria, in some cases abetted by state governors,” according to Scott Morgan, an Africa security expert interviewed by TruthNigeria. The Road AheadJohn Ali’s testimony offers a roadmap of the challenges Nigeria must overcome to break the cycle of kidnapping and terrorism. The testimony of one retired intelligence officer has illuminated the dark mechanics of Nigeria’s kidnapping economy.