A former member of the House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, has expressed great concern over spike in rate of kidnapping for ransom and other violent crimes across the country, saying the trend is causing fear among Nigerians.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain who represented Ife Federal Constituency at the National Assembly between 2011 to 2015 also condemned the tragic death of Dr. AbdulRauf Adekunle Adeniji, fondly known as “Kongo”, who was recently kidnapped and murdered by his captors in Abuja.
He noted that it would be uncharitable for anyone to engage in blame game adding that the way forward to stem the tide of insecurity was to declare a state of emergency to enable the government confront the security challenges headlong and for the National Assembly to enact laws in an accelerated manner.
In a statement on Thursday made available to newsmen, Makinde warned that the rising wave of insecurity could erode the gains made by the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and security chiefs tackling surge in abductions and other security challenges as well as restoring peace and driving economic development in the country.
Below is the full statement of Hon. Makinde:
Kidnapping: A National Crisis Demanding a State of Emergency!!
Kidnapping has become a pervasive and debilitating issue in Nigeria, instilling fear and uncertainty in the hearts of citizens.It has just consumed Dr Rauf Adeniji Ali’s Kongo,it took the grace of God to get a whole Army General and a former Director of NYSC off the hook!
The rampant nature of this crime has severe implications for the nation’s security, economy, and overall well-being.As a nation, we must jettison the idea of describing as a sin against the ruling government, we must not forget that it’s a war that confronted each successive government. To effectively address this menace, it’s imperative to declare a state of emergency and implement a comprehensive strategy to tackle the root causes and consequences of kidnapping.
Lets ask ourselves. How have we been living with each other as brothers and sisters before now, what has happened to the lost love? The reason I believe is such an external aggression against us. I really wonder why the most hit region the northern part of Nigeria,is failing to admit this satanic attack as a tactical and strange re-colonisation coming from outside, and why our various security agencies are not looking at it from that perspective.
Not until we all see it as a war “not of the Hausas but of a tribe seeking to dominate the larger Nigeria with intention to establish their colonies in this jet age ,then we shall continue to handle it with Levities.It is as bad as that.
The alarming reality, the frequency and brazenness of kidnappings in Nigeria have reached alarming levels, with various groups and individuals targeting innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. The demands for ransom have further exacerbated the situation, creating a lucrative industry that fuels more kidnappings.
The way forward is declaring a state of emergency to enable the government to confront it as a real war and for the National Assembly to enact laws in an accelerated manner.The time to act is now.
Intelligence collection and sharing among security agencies to identify and apprehend kidnappers must be done collectively and not this idea of leaving it with just the security agencies.
The National Orientation Agency are not doing enough toward orientation to provide assistance and counseling to victims and their families, addressing the trauma and hardship caused by kidnapping.
We honestly need a multi-faceted approach to effectively address kidnapping, it’s crucial to adopt a war approach that need total evacuation of Nigerians at various porous area like Sambisa forest and total eradication of any other criminal who may refuse to adhere strictly to law of the land.
By declaring a state of emergency and implementing a comprehensive strategy, Nigeria can work towards reducing kidnapping and creating a safer environment for its citizens.
