72 Hours Reign Of Kidnapping, Killings In Niger State #OsazuwaAkonedo

This week is seemingly not the best of time in Niger State, specifically for residents in Rafi local government area.

The week starting on Sunday witnessed the kidnapping of more than 20 passengers alongside some of their babies by terrorists when the Niger State Transport Authority bus heading to Minna, the state capital was ambushed by the gunmen.

Barely 24 hours after the abduction of the travelers, the terrorists invaded another village in the Rafi local government area of Niger State, killing the village Head of Kusherki, Mas’ud Abubakar and nine others in Munya community.

The terrorists left with the kidnapping of the wife and children of the village Head and 23 others in Munya.

Early this morning, the terrorists again invaded Kagara, the Headquarter of Rafi Local government area, killing a student at the spot and kidnapped numerous numbers of staff and students of Government Science College, Kagara, hours after exchange of gun fire with security operatives.

This same morning, the terrorists released video of the NSTA bus passengers abducted on Sunday, demanding for N500 million naira ransom while the kidnapped victims with their babies were seen in tears begging for life as the terrorists scared them.

The abduction of the students and staff forced the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello to summoned meeting with the state security chiefs.

Niger State government immediately ordered the closure of all boarding schools in three local government areas of the state. The local government areas include Rafi, Mariga and Shiroro.

President Muhammadu Buhari also ordered all the security chiefs to hold meetings with community chiefs in Niger State and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims.

In line with the President directive, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has since relocated to Niger State.

He was seen few hours ago in meeting with the state Governor and some traditional rulers.

The Nigeria Senate this morning during plenary asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency on insecurity in response to the kidnapping of the Kagara College students and staff.

According to Senator Bima Enagi, senator representing Niger State, President Muhammadu Buhari is incompetent in dealing with the security challenges in the country.

Senator Sani Musa moved a motion; asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency on insecurity in the country.

Prior to this morning kidnapping of students and staff of the Kagara Government Science College, the Niger State Government in a statement yesterday blamed the worsening security situation in the state on influx of armed bandits to the state.

Mary Noel-Berje, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State in the statement said thus:

“The situation, particularly in the last 72 hours, has become regrettably alarming! While efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted NSTA passengers, we heard that of Kusherki and other areas. We are witnessing these attacks now, almost, on daily basis and it is worrisome”,

“Niger State has witnessed the influx of Armed Bandits in recent times, making sporadic attacks at villages, maiming, killing and abducting people with reckless abandon in some local government areas of the state”.