The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja kidnapping

  • Those who have murdered sleep

    Those who have murdered sleep

    By Kene Obiezu

    SIR: It has become so difficult to sleep in Nigeria. A country that was once an oasis of peace has morphed into a hotbed of sleeplessness. If you stay in Abuja, especially on the outskirts – Apo, Bwari, Lokogoma, Kubwa, Lugbe – basically satellite towns, you must now be getting used to what has long been a tradition in other parts of the country. You must have stayed up a few nights already this year, straining for strange sounds, your heart pounding wildly as you prepare for the coming of the true owners of Abuja, its latest landlords.

    When in 2022, terrorists tore down the medium security correctional facility in Kuje and sprung some of Nigeria’s most dangerous criminals, didn’t the government spit fire, vowing that ‘Never again’?

    Today, ‘never ’ has slackened into every now and then. If gold rusts, what will iron do? If the seat of the Nigerian government is being overrun by kidnappers, what is the date of other parts of the country?

    That fate is not far-fetched. It is a notorious fact that terrorists control entire villages in some Nigerian states.

    If you are in Barkin-Ladi or Bokkos in Plateau State, you may have an inkling of what could happen. Maybe, you knew one or two of the two hundred people slaughtered just before Christmas last year.

    Read Also; Five Nigerian celebrities who are citizens of other countries by birth

    Depending on where you sit in the Nigerian food chain, there is a good chance that you no longer eat what you crave or spend your money on what you want. Austerity has become your new anxiety. As inflation has stripped your plates of all protein, your pockets of cash, and your bank account of all savings, Nigeria has also unfortunately stripped your eyes of all sleep.

    A new year has set off a string of slaughter and abductions.  A business that is making improbable millionaires out of otherwise venomous vagrants has become Nigeria’s new reality.

    Insecurity has reduced the welfare of people to dust and there are many smiling at the banks because others are in pain.

    If the uncertainty, anxiety and insecurity in Nigeria are stoking your efforts to leave Nigeria, your feelings are perfectly rational. Even rats scamper off a sinking ship. For whatever it is worth, I am asking the government to secure lives and property in Nigeria.

    To secure the lives of three-year olds and five-year olds and prevent their slaughter as happened in Plateau State. It is callous and calamitous to add insecurity to the poverty already grinding down Nigerians.

    If you suspect that those that have murdered sleep in Nigeria are spread across the country including in Abuja, you may just be right. And until sleep returns, you will do well to keep your eyes open for Nigeria’s new rulers, whose ruthlessness is a rod for Nigerians’ backs.

    • Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Abuja kidnapping: We have intensified patrols, says DHQ 

    Abuja kidnapping: We have intensified patrols, says DHQ 

    The Defence Headquarters says troops have intensified patrol within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs to curtail increase in kidnapping incident. 

    It also said troop are synergizing with other security services and stakeholders to investigate and gather more intelligence on kidnapping gangs around the capital city.

    The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this in a statement on Friday, January 19.

    Buba said troops have prioritized the areas of kidnappings, increased both ground and air surveillance over the areas. 

    He said the military has deployed technologies to more easily detect these kidnapping gangs in their hideouts and enclaves. 

    Some of the areas so far cleared by troops in recent operations, according to military high command, include Kawu, Gaba, Deidei, Kubwa Hills, and Ushafa in the FCT, Garam, Jibi, and back of Zuma Rock in Niger State, as well as Gidan Dogo and Kuyeri/Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State. 

    Buba said troops have also intensified night patrols in the Mpape, Kubwa, Lugbe, Pyakasa, Keti, Gbaupe, Gbaukuchi, and Airport Rd among others.

    He said: “The armed forces is not unaware of the terrible impact of kidnappings on the families of those affected. Indeed, our hearts and thoughts go to their families and loved ones. We also recognizes the fear that these kidnappings creates among the citizenry, following recent events in the FCT. 

    “While troops probably don’t have all the answers as at now. Citizens should be rest assured that the armed forces is working relentlessly to address the hurtful situation. Additionally, troop are synergizing with other security services and stakeholders to investigate and gather more intelligence on these kidnapping gangs, particularly around the FCT. 

    Read Also: Meet new commander of IRT, DC Sanusi assigned to tackle Abuja kidnapping crisis 

    “Troops have prioritized the areas of these kidnappings, increased both ground and air surveillance over the areas. Technologies have also been deployed to more easily detect these kidnapping gangs in their hideouts and enclaves. 

    “Furthermore, troops increased the tempo operations in order to find, degrade and destroy the terrorist and cohorts wherever they were hiding.”

    On troops operations in the North East, the military high command said troops of Operation HADIN KAI eliminated three top ISWAP terrorists commanders on January 10, in Borno State.

     The three commanders identified, according to Buba are Abou Maimuna, Abou Zahra and Commander Saleh. He said the commanders with their lieutenants were killed by air strikes.

    He said: “Overall, the operations during the week resulted in 43 neutralized terrorists with 76 of them arrested. Troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.

    “In the South South, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of One Hundred and Thirty One Million One Hundred and One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira (N131,101,750.00) only.

    “Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 7 dugout pits, 13 boats, 23 storage tanks, 2 barges, 4 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 15 cooking ovens, 2 pump machines and 16 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 139,045 litres of stolen crude oil, 25,115 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,200 litres of DPK.”

    The military high command said troops recovered 81 assorted weapons and 2,150 assorted ammunition.

    Buba said the armed forces would always be mindful of the threat by kidnapping gangs and terrorist across the country. 

    “Accordingly, we will continually review our internal processes in order to deal with these threats both now and in the long term. The military is determined to give the situation the seriousness it deserves so as to create a safer environment for citizens,” he said.