Ahead of the impending general election, many Nigerians have been thrown into a state of unrest as a result of the kidnapping spate that ravaged the country between Thursday and Friday. According to reports, about 19 persons were kidnapped in over 24 hours with relatives of these kidnap victims, clamoring for help. These kidnap victims included school children, traditional rulers, clergy men and other citizens. In the early hours of Thursday, gunmen were reported to have also abducted six school students.
Per an eyewitness report, the gunmen abducted the students in LGEA Primary School, Alwaza, abducting the children whilst on assembly. The eyewitness stated that upon storming the school, the abductors ordered some students to follow them, while the school staff escaped. DSP Rahman Nansel, the State State Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, upon confirming this incident, noted that a joint security team which comprised of the police, military and vigilante forces had been mobilized to track the abductors. Also in Taraba State, gunmen were reported to have the traditional ruler of Mutum Biyu, Gassol Local Government, his two wives and six children. This occurred around 1:00am on Friday morning, causing immense tension within the community.
Kidnappers target donated sum realized from thanksgiving program.
One of the palace guards confirmed to reporters that the abductees took them by surprise. He urged the state government to collaborate with security agencies to ensure the quick release of the monarch. He further stressed the need for relevant authorities to ensure a more effective security in the council. He said that they had not been able to sleep comfortably and urged the state government to deploy more security forces to guide the council. Abdullahi Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) also confirmed this incident, assuring the public that needed measures were being enacted to aid the release of the monarch and urging people with useful information to reach out to the police command.
Similarly, a Catechist of St. Monica Catholic Church, Kauru Local government, Kaduna, Mr. Kefas Ishaya was abducted on Thursday after their inability to locate Rev. Joseph Shekari. Shekari, who had previously been abducted in 2022, had traveled out of town, making him unavailable for a repeat of this ordeal. Eyewitnesses confirmed that one of the gunmen was shooting sporadically while in search of the Reverend Father. Mr. Yohanna Madaki, one of the church elders, speaking on the 2022 kidnapping incident, stated that the kidnappers targeted the donated sum realized from the church’s thanksgiving program. He noted that the church’s thanksgiving took place on the 16th day of the month, three days before the attack on the church.
Development erupted immense clamor against the spate of insecurity.
Also, the transition Chairman of Ideato Local Council, Imo state, Chris Ohizo with two of his cohorts on Thursday. The Chairman, upon being kidnapped, was shot in the leg and tossed into a car, before setting his house ablaze. A close source stated that this development erupted immense clamor against the spate insecurity that had ravaged the country. The State’s police spokesman, Henry Okoye, noted that the force was investigating the case and would get to the end of it soon. Similarly on Thursday evening, His Royal Highness, Agwom Izere of Jos East Local Government, Plateau State was also abducted but rescued in no time by the police force.
Roughly 72 hours after the release of the 20 victims of the Igueben train station kidnap, another 15 individuals were abducted. These 15 individuals were abducted at the Emokpae community of Edo State. The residents of this community, whilst protesting at the government’s house, revealed that 3 of the 15 victims had been killed already. Commander Egua, the protesters’ spokesman explained that herdsmen burst out from a bush, killing three people and holding another twelve captive.
Children of 12 & 15 years old kidnapped on their way from school.
Another protester and wife of one of the kidnapped victims, Esther Matthew., urged the government to help rescue her husband from this captivity. The 28 years old woman disclosed that her son was also kidnapped and her brother, killed while in the process of rescuing them. Another protester, Gift Omoruyi noted that her children of 13 and 15 years old were also kidnapped on their way back from school. Upon contacting the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, he stated that he wasn’t aware of the incident, indicating that the CPS in the states have the responsibility of rescuing these kidnap victims.
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