Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, has raised fresh security alarm over the rate crimes are being perpetuated in Nigeria with minimal resistance or intervention of security operatives. The senator lamented that the situation has continued to deteriorate and rending Nigerian citizens helpless.
Senator Shehu Sani, therefore, described the kidnap of Mohammad Abubakar, Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and his daughter by gunmen along the Kaduna-Abuja highway as tragic and unfortunate.
Sani in a Facebook post on Monday challenged the security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release.
“The reported kidnapping of Dr. Muhammad Abubakar Mahmud and his daughter and the killing of his driver along Abuja Kaduna road today is tragic and unfortunate.
“I call on the security agencies to jointly intensify efforts to secure their freedom. My heart goes to the victims and their families. May the soul of the deceased Rest in Peace.”
The gunmen said to be dressed in military uniform, were said to have intercepted two vehicles, including a sports utility vehicle belonging to the UBEC chairman, around Kurmin Kare Village along the highway at about 3.30pm on Monday, shot the driver dead, and later abducted the UBEC chairman and his daughter to an unknown destination.
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The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurahman, was said to have confirmed the incident in a statement. The CP also indicated that a combined team of Police Mobile Force, Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command, Special Forces and Operation Yaki have been mobilized to the area to comb the bush for possible rescue of the victims and arrest of the criminals.
The Kaduna-Abuja highway has been under the siege of bandits. The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had launched extensive security action plan tagged ‘Operation Puff Adder’ on Friday, April 5, 2019. The IG later assured Nigerians that the Kaduna-Abuja corridor has been cleared by the Police. He narrated that the Police also arrested leaders of the kidnapping gangs and armed robbery squads operating along the highway, telling Nigerians, then, the corridor is safe for traveling.
The operation is planned to cover the Kaduna-Abuja highway and adjoining communities extending to Kogi, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states.
The criminals, however, proved the IG wrong with their continuous activities along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
Many travelers between Kaduna and Abuja have since resorted to use the Abuja and Kaduna rail stations to avoid being victims of the criminals on the highway.