Kidnapping has been on the rise in several states across Nigeria in recent times, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja – the seat of power.
Daily Trust higlights some of the top 10 kidnapping cases under the Tinubu administration so far and how the menace can be addressed.
Six Siblings
On January 5, six siblings were kidnapped alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriya, from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja, shooting two policemen.
The captors released their father to go raise N60 million ransom to secure the release of his daughters.
One of the siblings, Nabeeha, a 400-level student of Biological Science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was killed by the bandits on Friday, while her five sisters, including Najeebah, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student and Nadherah, 300-level Zoology student, are still in captivity.
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Bandits abduct 17 in Niger
Gunmen, in two separate attacks on Tuesday, abducted 17 residents from Garam town and Zhibi community both in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Garam, where 14 people were abducted is located along the Sabon-Wuse-Bwari road, while Zhibi, where three others were also kidnapped is a community sharing boundaries with Dei-Dei town, which is under Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
A commander of the vigilante group in Garam, Dantani Daniel, said the bandits struck Sabon-Unguwa area of the community around 1am.
“They took their victims from different houses and left the community within less than an hour,” Daniel added.
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Benue Chairman
0n January 13, the caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Rev. Haanongon Gideon, and three others were kidnapped around Tongov axis of Kastina-Ala area of the state.
Locals said that the council chairman was whisked away alongside his Personal Assistant on Administration, Ior Silas Yuhwam, his driver and police orderly.
50 Zamfara villagers abducted
On January 16, bandits abducted about 50 villagers, including 36 women, in Magizawa village of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The bandits who attacked the village on Sunday, killing three persons including a member of a vigilante group and injured g five others.
Female students at Al-Qalam University
Two female students at Al-Qalam University in Katsina State were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
The victims, Habiba Ango Shantali and Maryam Abubakar Musa, were kidnapped on their way back to school on Monday.
Abuja–Kaduna highway
On January 9, bandits attacked travellers on the Abuja–Kaduna highway and abducted over 30 people.
The abduction took place at Dogon-Fili near Katari, along the Kaduna- Abuja highway in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
FULAFIA students’ abduction
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on December 8 invaded a students’ lodge at Gandu, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, kidnapping about eight students.
Students stormed the streets to protest the invasion and frequent robberies, appealing to the management of the institution and the security agencies to stem the attacks.
The abducted students were freed four days after.
Dei-Dei town Residents
On 13 December over 23 residents of Dei-Dei town located off Kubwa-Zuba Road were abducted from three housing estates in the area.
The kidnappers, in military uniform, arrived at the livestock layout area, located on the edge of the popular Abuja livestock market, Dei-Dei, around 8 pm and carried out their operation quietly.
Lagos-Ibadan expressway
In December seven persons were kidnapped along the Fidiwo area of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by gunmen in military uniform.
One person was shot dead while escaping the attack. The assailants fired sporadically and escaped with the kidnapped victims into the bush along the expressway.
Benue Commissioner of Information
In September 2023, the Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, was abducted.
Abo was abducted from his residence at his hometown in Zaki-Biam community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state and spent 10 days in captivity before he was released.
The victim was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29, 2023.
Tackling incessant abduction
A security analyst, Cahrles Omole, said that only an economic solution can end insecurity in Nigeria, saying the solution is not kinetic.
He said, “The solution to the ongoing security challenge in Nigeria is economic not kinetic. Every part of the government must do an assessment of their policies.
“There is no point armed forces killing the terrorists and government policies throwing more people into terrorism. When government policies push people into criminality, you can’t push your way into peace.
“The solution here is that when the armed forces are doing their bit, the government also needs to do its bit to make sure that economic policy sustains the peace we seek as a nation.
Tinubu summons service chiefs
President Tinubu on Tuesday summoned service chiefs to an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the deteriorating security across the states of the federation, including the FCT.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and heads of other security agencies.
Although the outcome of the meeting was not disclosed to journalists, it was learnt that it was convened to review the current security situation in parts of Nigeria.
But the President, while receiving a delegation of Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden at the State House on Tuesday, noted that education is the antidote to the many challenges confronting the nation.
He described the spate of kidnappings and bandit attacks as disturbing, ungodly and sinister.
“There is no weapon against poverty that is as potent as learning. We are dedicated to building a lasting peace with a focus on the comprehensive education of our children. We will get our teachers and their owners involved in an education process that will be relevant to the future of this country.
“It is important. Knowledge brought me here with your prayers and your support. Without knowledge, there is nothing to generate hope for mankind,” he said.
