In Nigeria, we found Ummu Kalthum, one of the few female negotiators who helps desperate families whose members have been kidnapped by Boko Haram. It’s a high-risk job in a very high-risk environment: We had to fly Ummu out of her hometown, where there is a road called ‘the highway of death’, to the capital Lagos to do the interview.
Other stories included an ordinary family turned negotiators to save one of their own in Mexico; and another negotiator in Philippines who redeemed himself after the Luneta Bus hostage situation in 2010 saw the tragic loss of lives.
This season features some of the most harrowing and amazing real-life accounts of kidnappings and hostage situations, and we’re excited for you to meet the amazing negotiators at the heart of these stories.
Just remember, though, as Gary Noesner told us: You can never negotiate with a toddler.
Adi Thayi
Executive Producer, The Negotiators Season 2
