Plateau communities decry rise in kidnapping activities

Communities in Plateau State have decried  incessant kidnapping activities in the state, saying the development required urgent attention by the authorities.  According to the communities, there have been a series of kidnappings in the state, explaining that many people were kidnapped between the month of December 2021  and January this year.  The communities said these […]

Communities in Plateau State have decried  incessant kidnapping activities in the state, saying the development required urgent attention by the authorities. 

According to the communities, there have been a series of kidnappings in the state, explaining that many people were kidnapped between the month of December 2021  and January this year. 

The communities said these criminal activities had become rampant despite Lalong’s emphasis on the death penalty law passed by the House of Assembly. 

The communities said the law should take its course against whoever was convicted to have committed the crime, adding that they were surprised that despite the existing law, criminals continue to perpetrate the evil act. 

 Barr. John Amama, a youth activist from Rukuba Chiefdom of Bassa LGA, lamented at activities of kidnappers in the  state.  “Kidnapping in Plateau State is now overrunning almost all the 17 LGAs of the state. 

“Everyday, there is a rise in kidnapping activities in the state. People on the Plateau have cause to worry. In Bassa, which is my LGA, there are successive records of kidnapping we know in the month of December. We have four to five persons kidnapped  in the last month and ransom were paid for all the victims. 

“My call to all critical stakeholders is to come together and ensure that events of such don’t occur again or at least be reduced to the barest minimum. It is more worrisome that the Third Armour Division of the Nigerian Army is situated in Bassa and such activities are happening in the area,” he added. 

Similarly, Gambo Abdullahi, Commander of the vigilante in  Yelwa Community of Shendam LGA, told Benue/Plateau Trust that abduction had become the order of the day in Yelwa and its environs, saying the situation had forced the community to be more security conscience by mounting roadblocks at strategic places. 

He said: “We came with the strategy to secure our community and put a stop to the lingering security challenges caused especially by the kidnappers. We are therefore appealing to the government to add more security across  Shendam LGA. We also appeal to the government to assist the vigilante with logistics for better operation.” 

Benue/Plateau correspondent reports that on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, in an effort to tackle criminal activities in the state including kidnapping, paraded seven suspected kidnappers at the headquarters of the command. 

He said the suspects were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command based on credible and intelligent information 

Benue/Plateau learnt that millions of naira were allegedly paid to kidnappers before the release of the abductees. 

It would be recalled that a paramount ruler of Gindiri town of Mangu LGA, Charles Dakat, was kidnapped on December 25 and millions of naira were said to have been paid before his release. 

Similarly, on December 31, the former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the State, Nicholas Nshe, and the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Plateau State University chapter, Hassan Zitta, were kidnapped. A source close to the victims revealed that N15m was paid before their release. 

On Sunday, the wife of Silas Vem, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor of Plateau was kidnapped at Rayfield, while on Monday, a medical doctor, Samuel Audu, was also kidnapped in Barkin Ladi town of Barkin Ladi LGA of the state. 

On Wednesday evening, the state Police Command confirmed the abduction and release of three residents of Ban Village, behind Plateau State Polytechnic Heipang, Barkin Ladi Polytechnic. 

Reacting the Spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Ubah Gaberiel said “ kidnapping activities were not on the increase in the state.  

“We have been putting some security measures to ensure that such security challenges are put to an end. Our men are placed in strategic locations to ensure adequate security. 

He appealed to the public to assist the command by providing information on the activities of criminals.