Amnesty International, a global non-governmental organization dedicated to human rights, has issued a call to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to address the recent surge in rampant kidnapping incidents across Nigeria as a matter of emergency.
The organization highlighted the alarming increase in kidnapping cases in recent weeks. On January 5, six sisters and their father were kidnapped from their residence in Zuma 1, Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). While the father was eventually released, the girls remained in captivity. Tragically, one of the kidnapped girls, Nabeeha, was reported to have died in captivity on Sunday. Additionally, three others, including 13-year-old secondary school student Folorunsho Ariyo, were reported dead after being kidnapped in other parts of the community.
Amnesty International emphasized the severity of the situation, citing the abduction of over 45 people travelling between Otukpo in Benue state and Enugu, with no information on their whereabouts. Another distressing incident involved the killing of one of the ten people kidnapped at an estate in Dutse near Abuja due to the family's inability to pay the ransom.
Describing these abductions as an epidemic embedded in daily life, Amnesty International called on President Tinubu to take immediate and lawful measures to halt the cycle of violence and fear. The organization expressed concern about the widespread insecurity and chaos exacerbated by routine kidnappings, asserting that Nigerian authorities must urgently address the kidnapping surge.
Amnesty International also criticized the lack of tangible commitment by authorities to tackle the escalating breakdown of law and order, emphasizing that security for all citizens should be a top priority. The organization highlighted the reluctance of many families to report kidnapping cases after paying ransom for fear of reprisals, leading to undocumented incidents.
The non-governmental organization urged Nigerian authorities to abide by the constitution, which mandates the protection of lives and properties. Furthermore, Amnesty International called for a thorough investigation into the waves of kidnapping and killings, emphasizing the need to bring those responsible to justice.
