Kidnappings in Kaduna: Group Describes Police Denial as Shameful…..says no one is safe in Kaduna
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
A group led by Former Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Danjuma Sarki, on Saturday described as shameful, the position of the Kaduna Police Command over numbers of Kidnapped victims on Kaduna/Abuja road recently.
Police had on Friday 9th June 2017, in a statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmad Abdulrahaman debunked the report over the kidnapped of over 20 people traveling along Abuja/Kaduna road, “a story been circulated on the internet and some print media about the purported kidnapping of 20 persons at Akilibu village along Abuja – Kaduna Express way.
“Although, the command has recorded an incident where five (5) persons driving along Kaduna-Abuja express way in a Toyota camry were attacked, three people (3) were robbed and the two (2) others kidnapped to unknown destination. When the report reached us, the Command’s technical and human resources where deployed to ensure the rescue of the two (2) victims and the arrest of the culprits.”
But according to Danjuma, he and some of his concerned friends had on Thursday 8th, reported the matter the police command, after the news broke out and the police promised to investigate and ensure the release of the captives.
He said, “to our greatest shock, instead of doing the needful, the Kaduna state Police Command decided to debunk it through a press statement, describing it as false, claiming that there was no truth in the story, that it was misleading.
“Though, we suspected this ab initio, due to the manner they treated our report by claiming not to have receiving any complaint or report from any quarters or their men covering those areas.
“However, we told them we were there to formally report the matter, that was when the same DCP Abdulrahaman later owned up to us that the the Divisional Police Officer of Kateri Division informed them after receiving a call during a meeting they held on kidnapping on the on the same axis on Wednesday 7th June, 2017 at the Force Headquarters.”
Danjuma, added that from the moment, they began to smell a rat, which emanated into subsequent Shameful denial by the Police.
“These action gave birth to our total lost of confidence on the police to investigate the matter, which led to our refusal to contact them when we established contact with the kidnappers.
“We wish to categorically and unequivocally reaffirm that the incident is true with physical proof. Despite several payment of ransom and releases of some victims as at yesterday night, there are still more than 30 people in their captivity.
“We want to reiterate here that no one is safe on Kaduna-Abuja express way due to the nonchalant attitude and lack of commitment from our security agencies and the government.”
He expressed disappointment that despite the deployment of 510 anti-riot police men backed with 40 patrol vehicles and armoured personnel carriers on Abuja-Kaduna express way, which was expected to man dark spots and vulnerable points in the area, where this spate of kidnapping has degenerated to an intolerable level on high way.
He accused the police and the Kaduna state government, saying, “It is so sad, that the Nigeria Police, Kaduna Command and the Kaduna state government, unperturbed about the security or lives and properties of Nigerians, rather they are more concern about their image as a result of their inefficiency in tackling security challenges in the State, hence the level of crime and criminality in the State.
“The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna has steadily exposed his incompetence and unprofessionalism in the discharge of his responsibility. We strongly believe that he lacks the capacity to superintend over Kaduna police command.”
