Abuja Kidnapping : Protests brew in Abuja, Kaduna

…As Police sue for peace, initiate plans to end banditry attacks

…Pantami’s ally pays ransom for release of Nabeejah, siblings

Investigations by Nigerian NewsDirect have revealed that civil society groups and Nigerians angered by the rising insecurity are gearing up for protests in Abuja and Kaduna respectively.

The agitations for a protest are against the backdrop of the abduction of six young girls in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and the killing of one of them following the failure of the parents of the kidnapped students to pay the ransom of N60m demanded.

This was followed by a poster being shared across social media platforms notably on WhatsApp and X (formerly twitter) noting that the location and times for the protest will be announced soon.

Social media users also seized the occasion to lend their voice by trending the hashtag #ProtestisHaram explaining that it is time for Northerners who are majorly Muslims to ditch their idea of not protesting but embracing it for national development and national security.

Our findings revealed that the groups are planning to stage the protest by Tuesday if the kidnapped girls are not released by their abductors.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has stated that it has initiated a comprehensive plan of action.

In a press statement by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, he noted that due to the sensitivity of the situation necessitates discretion, and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations.

He however explained that the Police is diligently coordinating efforts to address this and prevent any further occurrence, as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims.

“The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity.

“Furthermore, recognising the psychological impact on affected families, the Police are encouraging open communication with their operatives to provide support, information, and assistance to mitigate the psychological warfare imposed by kidnappers on the relatives and loved ones of their victims,” he said.

On the other hand, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof.Isa Ali Pantami has said that a friend of his has offered to pay N50 million ransom to kidnappers to secure the release of the five remaining sisters who were abducted in Abuja.

Nigerians on social media had started a fundraising campaign for the ransom to seek the release of a lady identified only as Nabeeha and five of her sisters who were abducted in their house in Abuja on January 2, 2024.

However, ex-minister Pantami disclosed in a tweet on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday that a friend of his, whose name was not mentioned, has offered to contribute N50 million to their release.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. However, since it becomes clear, we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the 5 remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today.

“Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately. I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah.

“May the Almighty Allah reward the brother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too. May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us. I love Nigeria.”