The scourge of kidnapping has reached alarming levels under the administration of Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with over 2,370 Nigerians falling victim to abduction by the kidnappers, who run rampant, in less than ten months.
The level of kidnapping has worsened to the extent that Nigerians don’t flinch anymore when they read or see news stories about large groups of persons being kidnapped; because it’s now ‘common news.’
The once-unthinkable has become a grim reality for citizens, as the frequency of kidnappings continues to rise unabated, instilling a pervasive sense of fear and insecurity across the nation.
Travelling has become a gamble with one’s safety. Every average Nigerian travels with the mindset that he or she might be kidnapped and incur ransom payments for his or her family; that’s how deteriorated the kidnapping situation in Nigeria has become.
Moreover, the way kidnappers in Nigeria patrol so freely and perform their operations successfully, even having the confidence to ask for ransom, one might wonder if we still have security personnel in the country. Kidnapping now seems like a successful business since it has reached a point where Nigerians crowdfund to pay kidnappers in the country.
Data from the Civil Society Joint Action Group reveals a staggering figure of 1,872 abductions recorded within the first eight months of Chief Tinubu’s tenure, marking a distressing trajectory of insecurity.
In addition, studies conducted by Parallel Facts underscore the severity of the situation, with over 500 Nigerians falling victim to abduction in less than two months, from February to March 2024.
The timeline of these harrowing events paints a grim picture of the relentless onslaught faced by ordinary citizens. Here are some kidnapping events since Tinubu’s administration began in May 2023:
On May 2023, gunmen kidnapped 12 people along allong the Afuze-Auchi road in Edo State.
On September 30, 2023, A group of gunmen believed to be kidnappers reportedly kidnapped about 25 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Akure, the state capital, on Friday afternoon. The victims, who were said to be traveling to Ifon, in the Ose local government area of the state, for a burial ceremony, were stopped by the suspect kidnappers, who whisked them away.
On October 2, 2023, gunmen believed to be kidnappers abducted 15 people yesterday along the Afuze-Auchi road in Edo State.
On October 10, 2023, Gunmen have abducted four students from Nasarawa State University in Keffi, a few kilometers from the nation’s capital, Abuja. All of the abducted students are first-year university students.
On October 17, 2023, according to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). Attacks by bandit herdsmen on the Southern Kaduna region occurred, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people and the abduction of 31 more.
November 5, 2023, Gunmen have abducted the two wives of the chairman of Kiyawa Local Government Area in Jigawa State, Honorable Nasiru Ahmed Kiyawa, after invading his residence on Friday night.
December 7, 2023, In a harrowing incident on federal highways in Niger State, bandits unleashed terror by fatally shooting a bus driver and abducting eight passengers during a brazen attack that occurred last Saturday.
December 12, 2023, the recent assaults on Gbaupe, a rural village situated behind ACO Estate Lugbe along the Abuja Airport Road. In this distressing incident, 12 individuals, including a 9-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, were abducted.
On January 8, 2024, A group of terrorists disguised as herdsmen infiltrated Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, located on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the Bwari Area Council, on Sunday evening. Vanguard reported that the kidnappers took eight residents and then proceeded to abduct two staff members of a nearby hotel.
On January 10, 2024, The Kogi State House of Assembly has voiced its alarm over the escalating insecurity issues, confirming the abduction of six individuals in the Yagba East Local Government Area over the past three weeks.
January 12, 2024, Approximately 40 terrorists reportedly raided the Kawu community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, kidnapping 23 individuals.
January 13, 2024, The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), specifically Bwari and Dei Dei, is grappling with a disturbing escalation of bandit attacks and kidnappings, with over 96 individuals abducted within the past 21 days.
January 15, 2024, Two female students of Al-Qalam University, Katsina State, were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be bandits on Monday. The victims, Habiba Ango Shantali and Maryam Abubakar Musa, both from Borgu Local Government of Niger State, were abducted on their way back to school after the Christmas break.
January 25, 2024, Terrorists have reportedly invaded Ogurugu community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, abducting four women in an incident that occurred on Tuesday evening.
January 31, 2024, In a distressing incident in Emure Ekiti, Kidnappers intercepted a school bus from Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, abducting five pupils and four staff members.
January 31, 2024, Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have abducted two teenage sisters from Guita community, Chikakore, located in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
February 3, 2024, A group of armed terrorists attacked and kidnapped about 55 wedding guests who were escorting a bride home in Katsina State on Saturday. The incident occurred along Damari town in the Sabuwa Local Government Area of the state, where the terrorists ambushed the wedding convoy and opened fire.
February 6, 2024, A man identified as @suleima85943548 on Twitter has raised an alarm over the abduction of his family members by unknown gunmen in Katsina State. According to his tweet, his junior brother’s wife, two of his cousins, and their four children were kidnapped.
February 20, 2024, According to reports, a group of terrorists intercepted a vehicle carrying passengers from Kabba to Lokoja along the Oshokoshoko-Obajana-Lokoja road in Kogi State, resulting in the kidnapping of eight individuals.
March 7, 2024, In a shocking incident that unfolded at LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), pandemonium erupted as a group of terrorists invaded the school, abducting 286 pupils.The distressing event occurred at 8:20 am right after the morning assembly, catching the school community off guard.
March 9, 2024, in a disturbing development, a group of gunmen, suspected to be bandits, has reportedly kidnapped 16 students from a Qur’anic School, commonly referred to as “Tsangaya Pupils,” in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
March 16, 2024, bandits have again invaded in Kaduna State, kidnapping 14 villagers.The attackers reportedly arrived at Dogon Noma-Unguwan Gamo Community in Maro ward, Kajuru Local Government Area in large numbers at around 6:00 am on Saturday.
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March 18, 2024, On Sunday night, a fresh assault by terrorists targeted the Kajuru-Station community in Kaduna State’s Kajuru Local Government Area, resulting in the abduction of 87 individuals.
March 21, 2024, Today, in broad daylight, dozens of passengers commuting in an eighteen-seater bus operated by the Katsina State Transport Authority fell victim to kidnapping by terrorists.
In the face of this adversity, calls for decisive action grow louder, demanding a concerted effort to stem the tide of kidnapping and restore a sense of security to Nigeria besieged by fear. Only then can Nigerians reclaim the peace of mind that has been so callously taken from them by the scourge of kidnapping.
