By Blessing Chinagorom
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki have reacted over killing of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, who was abducted with her siblings and has been in the custody of their abductors for almost two weeks.
Atiku on his social media platforms said that this is yet another reminder that kidnappers and bandits are operating unhindered in the country.
He said, “The security architecture needs to be rejigged to the extent that it stems the free rein of criminal elements and guarantees the safety of lives and property.
“The security agencies should step up action to rescue the rest who are still in the custody of the kidnappers. I pray Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort the family”, 2023 People’s Democratic Party Presidential Candidate added.
Also, the former Senate President in his reaction said it’s unconscionable that Nabeeha’s life was lost due to extortion and greed, adding that no family should ever have to face such an impossible choice—to pay a ransom that cripples their lives or face the unthinkable consequences.
He condemned the kidnappers responsible for this tragedy and the ongoing captivity of remaining five Al-Kadriyar children, saying that the abductor’s actions are cruel and barbaric, inflicting unspeakable suffering on innocent victims and tearing families apart.
The ex-Senate President urged the authorities to work tirelessly to ensure the safe and swift return of remaining children. “Every effort must be made to bring these perpetrators to justice.
“Our security agencies must be empowered with the resources and training necessary to effectively combat these criminal elements. Intelligence gathering, proactive intervention, and seamless inter-agency collaboration are crucial to dismantling these networks of terror.
“May Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive Nabeeha’s sins and grant her a place in Al Jannah Firdaus. May He protect the remaining children and grant the Al-Kadriyar family strength and solace during this unimaginable ordeal”, he said.
Report has it that kidnappers’ free reign has apparently continued in the Federal Capital Territory as four out 10 persons kidnapped in Kubwa/Dutse area of the territory have been found killed and dumped at Ida, nea Ushafa in Bwari Area Council.
Among the bodies were that of a secondary school student and the daughter of Ekiti State-born Chief Legal Officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 400 level student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar.
Miss Ariyo was abducted along with her mother and three siblings two Sundays ago while Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar was seized with her father and five of her female siblings last Tuesday in the same axis.
Family sources told the Media that the kidnappers had demanded for the sum of N60 million ransom to release members of the Ariyo family who could only raise about N5 million.
“Talks were still ongoing and as at last Friday, we were optimistic of a positive outcome until we were contacted to pick up her body,” a family source volunteered.
The teenage girl was buried on Sunday in Dutse Cemetery, Abuja while the other members of the family remain with their abductors.
It was learned that the kidnappers who invaded Al-kadriyar’s residence at Zuma 1, near Bwari at about 9pm last Tuesday, also took away her father and her sisters and demanded the sum of N100 million ransom for their release but later dropped it to N60 million.
A source who gave an account of the incident, said: “On Tuesday 2nd of January around 9:00 pm kidnappers struck and took away a father and her six children (all girls) at Zuma 1 after Bwari FCT before Veritas University.
“The junior brother that was contacted on distressed call died during the attack. The father was released 48hrs after to bring N60m ransom.
“We were contacted last night Friday 12th Jan around 7pm to bring the money and later called around 10:30pm same night telling us they have killed one of the girls and even described the location for us to pick the corpse.
“While were we at the point of picking up the corpse, they called again raising the ransom of N100m insisting that any attempt in delaying the payment will be met with equal treatment. These are the phone numbers being used by the abductors: 07016250005 0912 391 5983.”