​Kidnapping: Nigerians Have Lost Faith In Government — Northern Elders

The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has said that with the continued kidnapping and banditry especially in the northern part of the country, the citizens have lost faith in the ability of government to defend them.

The Northern Elders also said the unabated abduction of students in the region poses threat to education in the region, especially the education of the girl-child.

In a statement by its Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, NEF decried the rate of kidnapping and banditry in the region.

NEF said it is obvious that government lacks capability to limit the exposure of defenseless Nigeria to armed bandits and kidnappers.

“It has become painfully obvious that the Federal Government is unable to muster the will or the capacity to limit exposure of Nigerians to violent criminals.

“Governors have been left to quarrel over causes and strategies. Many are taking steps that have dubious legal foundations, most of which merely compound the State of Security of the citizen in the country.

“In spite of assurances from the Federal Government that it will end banditry and kidnappings, the life of the Nigerian is becoming more endangered by the day, and citizens have lost faith that Governments will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens.

“The latest reported kidnapping of more than hundreds of female students in Zamfara State follows the abduction of student of GSC, Kagara, Niger State.
“Apart from the likelihood of similar abductions re-occurring as bandits engage in copy cat crimes in a region that is basically unprotected, these abductions will severely damage the poor state of education in the North, particularly girl-child education”, NEF noted.

The Forum, however, adviced Northern Governors to explore all lawful avenues to improve the Security of citizens.
“While they should improve their support to the Military, the Police and Security Agencies, they should also explore avenues which give them more powers to secure citizens.

“Governors should explore issues which aid the spread of banditry at local and community levels and resolve them. They should also intensify multi-pronged approaches to ending banditry and kidnappings, including measures which prevent the continuation of these criminal activities by those who show a genuine willingness to stop.

“Bandits who refuse to submit to mediation and cessation of criminal activities should be treated in accordance with the laws of the country.

Citizens should organize and raise their levels of vigilance. They should resist the temptation to take laws into their hands, and improve the manner they work with Security Agencies. Parents should not be discouraged from sending children to schools, and all governments must take firmer measures to secure learning institutions,” the statement added.

Boko Haram attacks travellers, abducts bride, escorts

Boko Haram insurgents have again struck Maiduguri-Damaturu highway and kidnapped a bride and her entourage less than two days after they kidnapped travellers near Auno, a suburb of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Sources say the dastardly act took place in the late hours of Friday afternoon.
The bride who is a graduate of the University of Maiduguri is a resident of the Gamboru kasuwan shanu area.

According to the only survivor of the attack, an elderly woman who was attached to the younger bridesmaids to escort them to the bride’s home in Damaturu, said they were travelling with six cars together with the bride, she passed out immediately upon seeing the terrorist who appeared in the front.

They left her unconscious there and took away all the entourage. They are to take the bride to her husband’s house who happens to be a member of the Prominent Hassan Yusuf Damaturu Family.

She was picked up by a patrol team who took her to the hospital for medical assistance. The bride’s family are unaware of the ugly scenario until after the woman who survived the attack regain consciousness and call home to inform them of the incidence.

It’s noteworthy that the Damaturu to Maiduguri highway has continued to claim the lives of innocent people, this is the second attack within two days. On Thursday there was a reported attack on travellers and an unknown number of people have been taken away by the insurgents and two cars were burnt, a driver who survived Thursday’s attack said they chased him with their Hilux vehicles but didn’t catch up with him and couldn’t shoot their guns on him as they do not want to draw the attention of the nearby military checkpoint close to the area of the attack.

Hundreds of motorist have been stalled in Jakkana as the military head out for rescue operations and clearance of the road.

” While the efforts of security operatives are highly commended for daily patrolling on the road, there is however a need for improving the current strategies as it has not eliminated the incessant attacks and kidnappings on the road.

” All hands must be on deck to salvage the situation and ensure the safety of travellers, on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. It is the only lifeline that connects Maiduguri to other states and all-important supplies and other essentials of Maiduguri are coming through the same route. May the bride and other victims of the road attacks regain their freedom,” a traveller said.