Amnesty International: Nigeria Facing Kidnapping Epidemic, Tinubu Should Declare Emergency

Global human rights organization, Amnesty International on Monday raised concerns over the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, saying citizens are now facing an epidemic of kidnapping.

The organization therefore said President Bola Tinubu “must treat the rampant kidnapping that has become part of daily life in Nigeria as an emergency by taking all lawful measures to end the cycle of violence and fear.”

AI recalled that last week, over 45 people travelling between Otukpo in Benue state and Enugu were kidnapped and nothing has been heard about them yet. 

Also last week, Nabeelah – a 400 Level student of Biological Sciences at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, was killed in captivity because her family could not urgently meet kidnapper’s demand for N60 million ransom. 

According to AI, her siblings are still in captivity of the kidnappers, while one of the 10 people kidnapped in an estate in Dutse in Abuja was killed over failure of her family to pay ransom.

The Media and Communications Assistant of AI Nigeria, Michael Christian, in a statement sent to Arise News titled, “Nigeria: Authorities must treat epidemic of kidnapping as an emergency”, quoted the Director of AI Nigeria Isa Sanusi, as saying the Federal Government of Nigerian had yet to show any tangible commitment to addressing the escalating breakdown of security across the country.

Sanusi said, “We are now facing an epidemic of kidnapping. People in Nigeria are now living on the knife edge. Widespread insecurity and the chaos it causes have been exacerbated by routine kidnapping, as armed groups tighten their stranglehold on the country. Nigerian authorities must immediately stem the tide of kidnapping now.

“Many families choose not to report cases of kidnapping after paying ransom for fear of reprisals and as a result, many incidents go undocumented. The current epidemic of kidnapping highlights the utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to effectively protect lives.”

The statement said that the number of people in custody of armed groups and kidnappers remained unknown, while the victims usually suffer shocking abuses. 

“Several women and girls, including school children, have been viciously raped while in captivity. Those kidnapped are routinely tortured. Many are beaten, starved, threatened with death, raped, held blindfolded for several days, verbally and physically assaulted.

“The Nigerian authorities are yet to show any tangible commitment to addressing the escalating breakdown of security across the country. Whatever security measures being currently implemented are clearly not working, as people in Nigeria feel more unsafe”, the statement emphasized.

While insisting that the security of all people should be the priority of the government, Sanusi said people should not be left helplessly at the mercy of ruthless gunmen as failure to address the security concerns urgently will grossly enable human rights abuses.

“Under International Human Rights Law and Nigeria’s constitution, the authorities have obligations to protect lives and properties of all without discrimination. The Nigerian authorities must investigate the waves of kidnapping and killings and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice through fair trials”, AI added.

Friday Olokor, Abuja

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