Fear has taken over the people living in Kaduna due to the sudden increase in kidnapping incidents. Recently, Mr. Takai Shamang, the former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was kidnapped in his hometown, Biniki, located in the Kaura Local Government Area. Additionally, two journalists and their families were also abducted.
Mrs. Grace Abbin reported that her 78-year-old father, who was the former president general of the National Union of Electricity and Gas Workers from 1982 to 1989, was taken from his home around 8 pm on a Friday. Shamang is also known for founding the Gantys Aid for Widows, Orphans, and Needy Foundation, commonly referred to as the GAWON Foundation.
In a related incident, the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) released a statement through its chairman Asma’u Halilu and Secretary Gambo Sanga. The statement condemned the kidnapping of its members, which occurred on Saturday around 10:30 pm.
The NUJ expressed shock and dismay at the bold and violent actions of the suspected kidnappers who abducted the Kaduna State Correspondents of The Nation Newspaper and the Blue Newspaper, along with their families, from their homes in Danhono, a suburb of Kaduna in Chikun Local Government Area.
The NUJ called on security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the journalists and their families. They also urged the government to enhance efforts to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. The statement highlighted the re-emergence of kidnapping in Kaduna and surrounding areas and stressed the need to prevent a repeat of past incidents.
The NUJ also advised all journalists in the state to remain vigilant and prayed for the safe return of their kidnapped colleagues and their families.
Meanwhile, former vice president Atiku Abubakar commented on the rising kidnappings, stating that it reflects a significant failure of leadership in protecting citizens. In his statement, Atiku criticized the increasing insecurity and urged security agencies to prioritize the rescue of those kidnapped and to focus on gathering and sharing intelligence.
He noted the recent kidnapping of 78-year-old Mr. Takai Shamang, the abduction of Janet Galadima-Gimba, a Customary Court judge in Kaduna, and the kidnapping of 75-year-old Hauwa’u Adamu, mother of a popular Hausa singer in Katsina. These incidents, he said, highlight the severe state of national security and the failure of leaders to safeguard citizens.
Atiku’s statement emphasized the importance of press freedom and condemned the kidnappings as a significant failure of leadership. He expressed his sympathies to the families and friends of those abducted and called for decisive action from security agencies to secure their release, with a strong focus on intelligence operations.
