Loading ...Rabiu Omaku
The rising spate of insecurity in Nasarawa State and the inability of our security apparatus to make frantic effort to curb the situation,I urged the 6th members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to as matter of great importance first week of assuming office not hesitate to come up with a legislation forbidden kidnapping in it’s entirety of by coming up with a stiff penalty on abductors who are having feilded day in the State.
The stiff penalty is the only option that would safeguard the lives of the citizenry of the State as well make the State a better place for all,a stitch on time saves nine as nobody knows who would fall into the trap of those evil merchants,in recent times hundred of families in the State are still nursing the pains of the ransome they paid to the kidnappers.
The invasion of kidnappers from the Federal Capital Territory a d neighboring Kaduna is a cause for concern and if left unchecked would consumed the entire populace with what is obtainable across the State.
Kidnappers are using the fertile ground in Nasarawa State due to security lapses,the lapsed range from the inability and inactions of security operating in the State to be up and doing by protecting aimless and armless civilian’s from the jugular of kidnappers as onlookers attributed the weaknesses of our security especially the police and other sister security agencies as a call for concerned by the citizenry who are victims of abduction on daily bases.
The recent kidnapping of the wife of the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council,Yahanasu Suleiman Abubakar and the wife of former lawmaker in the State,Hon.Sidi Bako is one abduction two many.
Is no longer news that bandits are raiding commuters of their valuables while others ended up in the den of kidnappers who requested for millions as ransome to fred their victims.
It would be recalled that the former Chief of Air staff was shoot to death by gunmen along Keffi highway even with the presence of aides with less or no investigation by security.
Also during the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo the media aide to governor George Akume,Agon was killed along Akwanga-Nasarawa Eggon by unknown assailant’s,all this potray the peaceful atmosphere of the State in a bad light.
The Chief of Army staff,Yusuf Tukur Burutai in an interview with selected Journalists last year at the Presidential lodge, Lafia confirmed that Fulani mercenaries used Tunga as a safe heaven to wreak havoc to Nasarawa and neighboring Benue State as he averred that 4 warlords has been nab by the Army.
The worst of all was the daily kidnapping of expatriate in Nasarawa Local Government area of the State, security reports has shown that over 75 persons were reported to have been abducted by kidnappers in Nasarawa Local Government alone between January 2018 to March 2019.
The kidnappers in Nasarawa Local Government used to collect N20,000 instead of collecting huge amount of money as ransome.
Also in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government it was reported that commoners in the locality were responsible for the kidnapping and killings of two expatriate due to the non payment of ransome to the abductors.
Amongst those kidnapped also include father to former Commissioner of Land and Survey, Hon Sunny Agassi while millions was paid as ransome.
Another incident was the abduction of Mother to Hon.Kasim Mohammed Kasim member representing Akwanga West in the State House of Assembly and over five persons were arrested in connection to the kidnapping while one of the suspect died in Lafia prison few hours he was admitted to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.
The outgoing member paid N3,000,000M as ransome to save the life of his mother.
Others also abducted are David Ayele, the House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress representing Obi 2 Constituency,he was kidnapped few days to the party primaries and huge ransome was paid to the kidnappers.
The recent one that shocked Gidan Ausa community of Jenkwe Development Area as the abduction of Reverend Father and N2,000,000M was demanded as ransome,it was reliably gathered that the family of Akyala who were directed to carry the money to the kidnappers were nab by suspected armed robbers who snatch away the N2,000,000M meant to settle the kidnappers,as at the time of filing this report,the chances of Reverend Father’s survive remains slimmer if well wishers failed to secure N2m for his released.
It could also be recalled that the wivies of the Commissioner of Education,Ahmed Tijjani Aliyu were kidnapped at his abode in Nasarawa Local Government,impecable source revealed that the Commissioner paid a whooping N3,000,000m before they regain their freedom.
Again in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government,a woman politician was kidnapped 24 hours to party primaries,Hon Mary Omwugulu in an exclusive interview with selected Journalists said the abduction was politically motivated so as to frustrate her ambition.
Also a former Minister of Labour and Productivity,Hussaini Zanuwa Akwanga met his waterloo and later on released with heavy ransome.
These are happening without any show of remorse by our security agencies,our lawmakers must raise up to this unabated insecurity that has enveloped the entire State,Council Chairman must wake up from their slumber by working pari pass with vigillanttee to mope up weapons from their handlers especially in some crisis stricken communities.
The outgoing administration have to up and doing to ensure that it’s disarmament program sees the light of the day.
The Community Based Conflict Management must be a reality by engaging all warring communities and if possible the State government should set up a Commission for Peace and Conflict which would comprises of all the ethnic groups in the State,this would also assist in averting the circulation of dangerous weapons.
Activities of bandits and kidnappers has plunged the State into chaos affecting farming activities as well socio-economic activities,traders across the State are in quandary over armed bandits robbing People of their valuables in a broad daylight.
A stitch in time saves nine.
