The Nigerian House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action to secure the release of the remaining 51 Nigerians kidnapped in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and other Nigerians held hostage by terrorists.
The lawmakers who expressed grave concerns over the plight of the innocent citizens, urged Government to urgently set up a high-power inter-agency panel to coordinate efforts for the release of citizens in the custody of bandits and offer help to families of the kidnapped persons in accordance with the best global practice.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Bamidele Salam, Julius Ihonvbere and nine other lawmakers.
In his lead debate, Salam observed that Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government; Section 17(2b) of the 1999 Constitution states that the sanctity of the human person shall be recognized and human dignity maintained and enhanced.
He said; “The House notes that in the last 10 years, terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other forms of violent crimes have become a raging security epidemic in different parts of the country.
“The House is alarmed that according to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), since 2018, there has been a rapid increase in kidnapping, with a rise from 987 victims in 2018 to 1,395 in 2019.
“The House is worried that the figure of kidnapped persons increased to 2,865 in 2020 and 5,287 in 2021.
“The House is further worried that over 70% of victims of kidnappings are children, women and elderly persons who were violently attacked and captured by criminals in the normal course of their daily activities on the farms, villages, roads, worship centers and other places.”
According to him, the House is also concerned that a large number of these kidnapped citizens have remained in captivity for so many years, months and days without any form of sustained help to secure their release or any social, medical or economic support to their grieving family members by Government.
“We are worried that some of the unresolved cases of kidnappings include the remnant of the Chibok girls abducted in 2014, the kidnap of Leah Sharibu since February 2018, the Islamiyya School students kidnapped in Niger State on 30th May, 2021, the Bethel Baptist High School Kaduna students kidnapped on July 5, 2021 and the Federal Government College Birni Yauri students kidnapped on 21st of October, 2021.
“In the current year 2022, there have been over 100 cases of kidnappings and abduction of innocent Nigerians; One of the most disturbing being the case of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack of March 28.
“The House is saddened that during the train attack, 168 Nigerians were reportedly kidnapped, while 8 persons were killed including a young Doctor due to travel out of the country, the week the incident occurred.
“The abductors of the train attack recently released pictures and video footages of 62 victims held hostage in terrible, physical and emotional conditions with a threat to kill them if their demands were not met by the Nigerian Government,” the lawmaker stated.
Salam said; “the House is bothered that the hostages include children aged 2, 5, 7 and 9 years; men nursing bullet wounds sustained during the attack; a victim had his leg amputated; diabetic patients, while others are citizens with various health challenges as well as a nursing mother.
“The stories told by 11 of the hostages recently released by the kidnappers depict the increasing deteriorating condition of the remaining hostages including children and women who are getting malnourished, emotionally distressed and psychologically traumatized for over 70 days in the forest.
“The House is concerned that if nothing urgent is done to secure freedom for these citizens and hundreds of others in captivity across the country, there may be an increasing loss of confidence in government which may embolden criminally minded persons and groups to step up these acts of criminality and thus endanger stability of our dear country.”
The House however, directed relevant Committees to ensure compliance.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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