Abuja Kidnappings: “We Must Suspect FG More”, Former Presidential Candidate Speaks Out

Abuja Kidnappings: “We Must Suspect FG More”, Former Presidential Candidate Speaks Out

  • Kidnappings have reared its ugly head in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja, after months of silence from the bandits
  • Abuja, a city known for its status as the political and administrative hub of Nigeria, is grappling with a rising tide of kidnappings that seemingly know no bounds
  • Reacting to the menace, former presidential hopeful, Adewole Adebayo, asserted that if Nigerian authorities are truly determined to end kidnappings today, "they have all it takes"

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 6-year-experience covering public journalism

FCT, Abuja - Amid mass kidnappings in Abuja, Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the 2023 election, on Wednesday, January 17, said Nigerians "must bemoan and suspect our government more".

Adebayo stated that if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA); the Nigeria Police Force (NPF); and the Department of State Services (DSS); want to end kidnappings today, "they have all it takes".

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Abuja/abuja kidnapping/abuja kidnapping today
Until December 2023, abductions by bandits are common in the northwest of Nigeria but attacks in Abuja are rare. Photo credit: @Pres_Adebayo
Source: Twitter

Adebayo laments kidnappers' reign in FCT, Abuja

The media entrepreneur, therefore, declared that the 'government is in on the menace'.

Adebayo wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) handle:

"As we bemoan and dread bandits and kidnappers, we must bemoan and suspect our government more. It is the duty of the government to stop criminality. If @officialABAT @NuhuRibadu @PoliceNG @OfficialDSSNG want to end kidnapping today, they have all it takes. Government is in on it."

Kidnappings: IGP launches special squad

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the inspector-general of police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, launched the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the federal capital territory (FCT).

The decision was to curb the activities of kidnappers and bandits, especially in border towns within the territory.

Sani identifies cause of insecurity in Abuja

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Legit.ng also reported that Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna, said the deterioration of security in parts of Abuja is a direct result of the security situation in the states around the FCT.

Sani, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserted that Abuja cannot be immune "as long as its neighbours are infected".

Omokri kicks as kidnappers demand N700m

Meanwhile, another PDP chieftain, Reno Omokri, said paying ransom to bandits means "they are remarkably better funded than the Nigerian Army".

Omokri in a tweet urged Nigerian authorities to prioritise funding the military properly to tackle the scourge of kidnap-for-ransom.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.