Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has blamed the spate of kidnappings and insecurity in the country on abject poverty and hunger.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has blamed the spate of kidnappings and insecurity in the country on abject poverty and hunger.
Atiku made this assertion in a statement via his X handle on Tuesday.
Atiku, who described the spate of violence in the country as distressing, said, “It is obvious that the worsening poverty and hunger in the land is escalating the level of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, the federal capital.
He argued that when the government fails to fulfil its constitutional obligations of protecting the lives and property of citizens, it is an invitation to kidnappers and other criminal elements to have a free rein visiting houses and hotels in and around the capital city, kidnapping citizens without resistance.
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Atiku lamented that kidnappers have continued their reign of terror unchecked, calling on the authorities to address the dire security situation urgently to regain the trust of Nigerians.
“The escalating violence and lawlessness in our nation deeply distresses me as bandits and kidnappers continue their reign of terror unchecked. Our youths and innocent citizens are being murdered daily.
“Just last Saturday, we lost Nabeeha to her captors. Yesterday, the tragedy deepened with the murder of more victims, including Folorunsho Ariyo, a 13-year-old student. Folorunsho was one of ten people kidnapped from Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, on January 7th, 2024.
“It is obvious that the worsening poverty and hunger in the land is escalating the level of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, the federal capital.
“When the government fails to fulfil its constitutional obligations of protecting the lives and property of citizens, it is an invitation to kidnappers and other criminal elements to have a free rein visiting houses and hotels in and around the capital city, kidnapping citizens without resistance. This is a sad development.
“It is imperative that the authorities address this dire security situation urgently to regain the trust of the Nigerian people.
“While I mourn with the deceased families, I pray to the Almighty to comfort them, grant the dead eternal peace and protect our nation. -AA”
Recall that on January 5, gunmen abducted six young girls in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, a situation that has generated public outcry.