INCESSANT KIDNAPPING: Survivors want IG transfer Kaduna CP, say 30 still in Kidnappers live camp
(The lucky three kidnapping survivors during their visit to NUJ, Kaduna secretariat after undisclosed amount was paid as Ransome to secure their release on Saturday)
Three out of several people allegedly abducted along Kaduna-Abuja express road recently have bemoaned Nigerian Police Force over the police inability to do anything tangible to secure the road for citizens despite several reported cases of kidnapping on the road.
The survivors, who were led to the Kaduna secretariat of Nigerian Union of Journalists by Former Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Danjuma Sarki, on Saturday described the denial of Kaduna Police command that only two persons were kidnapped as shameful.
Police in Kaduna had on Friday 9th June 2017, in a statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmad Abdulrahaman debunked the report that over 20 people traveling along Abuja-Kaduna road.
“A story been circulated on the internet and some print media about the purported kidnapping of 20 persons at Akilibu village along Abuja – Kaduna Express way.
“Although, the command has recorded an incident where five (5) persons driving along Kaduna-Abuja express way in a Toyota camry were attacked, three people (3) were robbed and the two (2) others kidnapped to unknown destination. When the report reached us, the Command’s technical and human resources where deployed to ensure the rescue of the two (2) victims and the arrest of the culprits.”
But Danjuma hinted that, he and some of his concerned friends had on Thursday 8th, reported the matter at the command, after the news broke out and the police promised to investigate and ensure the release of the captives.
“To our greatest shock, instead of doing the needful, the Kaduna state Police Command decided to debunk it through a press statement, describing it as false, claiming that there was no truth in the story, that it was misleading.
“Though, we suspected this ab initio, due to the manner they treated our report by claiming not to have receiving any complaint or report from any quarters or their men covering those areas.
“However, we told them we were there to formally report the matter, that was when the same DCP Abdulrahaman later owned up to us that the the Divisional Police Officer of Kateri Division informed them after receiving a call during a meeting they held on kidnapping on the on the same axis on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 at the Force Headquarters.
“These action gave birth to our total lost of confidence on the police to investigate the matter, which led to our refusal to contact them when we established contact with the kidnappers.
“We wish to categorically and unequivocally reaffirm that the incident is true with physical proof. Despite several payment of ransom and releases of some victims as at yesterday night, there are still more than 30 people in their captivity.
“We want to reiterate here that no one is safe on Kaduna-Abuja express way due to the nonchalant attitude and lack of commitment from our security agencies and the government”.
Danjuma further exprssed worry that , despite the deployment of 510 anti-riot police men backed with 40 patrol vehicles and armoured personnel carriers on Abuja-Kaduna express way, which was expected to man dark spots and vulnerable points in the area, where this spate of kidnapping has degenerated to an intolerable level on high way.
“It is so sad, that the Nigeria Police, Kaduna Command and the Kaduna state government, unperturbed about the security or lives and properties of Nigerians, rather they are more concern about their image as a result of their inefficiency in tackling security challenges in the State, hence the level of crime and criminality in the State.
“The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna has steadily exposed his incompetence and unprofessionalism in the discharge of his responsibility. We strongly believe that he lacks the capacity to superintend over Kaduna police command and we are calling in Inspector General of Police to transfer him out of the state”, added Danjuma.
POSTED BY EDITOR (Saturday 10-06-2017).