• FG urged to declare emergency on capital city
• HURIWA canvasses judicial panel to expose conspirators
• Terrorists attack joint military camp in Katsina 

For the umpteenth time, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are highly unsettled following widespread insecurity around the outskirts, characterized by frequent and indiscriminate kidnapping of persons.

Meanwhile, kidnappers, who abducted 10 persons from Sagwari Estate Layout at Dutse in Bwari Area Council on January 7, 2024, have reportedly killed two more of the victims to send a strong warning to their relatives negotiating ransom payment.

The bandits reportedly increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million, now totalling N700 million.

Residents said the victims were allegedly killed over the delay in raising the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

It was also gathered that a 13-year-old secondary school pupil was among those killed.

On Friday, reports emerged that the kidnappers, who also operated in some villages in Bwari, had killed one of the six abducted persons, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, to force the family into quickly raising the demanded ransom.

A former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Ali Pantami, on Sunday, stated that he had mobilised a balance of N50 million ransom for the Al-Kadriyar family to enable them to secure the release of their remaining five daughters from the kidnappers following the murder of Nabeeha.

According to security expert, Frank Oshanugor, the whole scenario playing out in Abuja security, showed that police had failed.

“With these recent kidnappings and demand for a humongous amount of money as ransom by the criminal elements with ease, I hasten to conclude that both the police and other security agencies of the state have failed.

“Where has our security technology gone? Why can’t these kidnappers be located? Are the security agencies being settled or they are part of the kidnap gang? I weep for Nigeria,” he said.

But former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Taiwo Lakanu (rtd) urged Nigerians to not blame the police for FCT insecurity.

DUE to the rising insecurity, kidnapping and incessant attacks on Abuja residents, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner for Public Complaint, Dalhatu Ezekiel, has asked the Federal Government to prioritise the area’s security situation and immediately declare a state of emergency.

Speaking, yesterday, at a briefing organised to address the insecurity in the FCT, Ezekiel called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to suspend all ongoing projects, if need be, to address the pertinent issue that involves the lives of residents.

MEANWHILE, President of Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, has urged President Tinubu to set up a judicial panel to uncover conspirators in security agencies.

HURIWA said the inquiry should also focus on why kidnappers are successfully using telecommunication to negotiate and receive huge ransom payments without the security forces ever flagging them down using the information technology equipment, which the police claim to have procured for over a decade.

The Rights group said the systematic collapse of intelligence among the security agencies was a symptom of the deeper issues of conspiratorial collaboration between these societal undesirable elements and some key officers in the security forces, no doubt.

It, therefore, believes that the time has come for the President to take this decisive step to expose, arrest and prosecute these moles working with terrorists and kidnappers whilst operating as security operatives.

DAREDEVIL terrorists, on Sunday night, ransacked a joint military camp in Nahuta community, Batsari Local Council of Katsina State.

The terrorists, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked the camp about 11.30pm, destroying several security vehicles, among other items.

It was learnt that security operatives stationed at the camp initially repelled the terrorists, having engaged the terrorists for hours.

However, the joint military personnel retreated from the camp when terrorists almost overwhelmed them.

The Guardian gathered that no life was lost, but that the terrorists managed to gain access to the camp and set some vehicles, among other items, ablaze.

The terrorists later moved into Nahuta community where they broke into homes and shops, carting away valuables and domestic animals.

At the time of filing this report, both the police and military in the state had yet to issue statements on the attack.

The incident came about four days after terrorists attacked Kukar Babangida community in Jibia Local Council, where they killed 10 persons, including the district head, Haruna Abale, and his son.

Also, the terrorists set no less than five vehicles ablaze, including those belonging to a road construction company that was carrying out a project in the area.

In a related development, terrorists have killed two persons, a driver and his assistant, who were ferrying household items belonging to three brides in Jibia.

The driver, Babangida Turaki, and his assistant, Auwalu Malu, were killed last Tuesday about 9.00pm along the Jibia-Batsari road.

It was learnt that the terrorists had blocked the road, and opened fire at the vehicle when it seemed the occupants were not showing signs of stopping.

Sources said the terrorists set them and the bridal items they were ferrying ablaze.

Malu’s remains were totally burnt to ashes in the fire, as his body could not be retrieved from the burnt vehicle by sympathisers the following day.

But Turaki’s remains were retrieved and buried the following day, according to Islamic rites.

The police command in the state did not respond to inquiry regarding the incident.