The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has raised a grave alarm over a fresh resurgence of kidnapping across the state, calling on Governor Abdullahi Sule and relevant security agencies to take swift action to protect lives and property.
The Speaker of the House, Dr. Danladi Jatau, voiced the concern on Monday during proceedings in Lafia following a motion on a Matter of Public Interest brought forward by Mr. Solomon Akwashiki, the lawmaker representing Lafia Central Constituency.
Speaker Jatau noted that frequent abductions in Lafia, the state capital, and several other regions have gripped residents with fear and crippled local economic activities.
“The resolution of the House is to urge Gov. Abdullahi Sule to direct all security agencies the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to beam their searchlight across the state to curtail the rate of kidnapping,” Jatau stated.
He further emphasized the need for grassroots security synergy: “All hands must be on deck, especially chiefs and village heads in collaboration with vigilantes to identify strange persons, and people should be security conscious in their communities.”
The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of the Assembly to formally communicate the resolution to Governor Sule for swift implementation.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Mr. Akwashiki painted a harrowing picture of the security situation in his constituency, revealing that citizens could no longer “sleep with their two eyes closed.”
“Yesterday, in Agyaragu, Lafia, two people were kidnapped; a few days ago, in Agunji, Lafia, people were kidnapped,” Akwashiki informed the assembly. “As I speak, the two people kidnapped yesterday are still in the hands of the kidnappers and they are demanding ransom.
Security agencies and the state government should rise up to curtail the rate of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in my constituency.”
Other lawmakers who spoke in support of the motion included Mr. Esson Mairiga, Mr. Onarigu Kana, Mr. Abdullahi Sa’ad, Mr. Suleiman Azara, Mr. Abel Bala, and Mr. Larry Ven-Bawa. They unanimously expressed sorrow over the severe impact of abductions on the daily livelihoods of their constituents.
While commending Governor Sule’s ongoing efforts to secure the state, the lawmakers urged the administration and security chiefs to step up commitment and deploy enhanced measures to crush the resurgence of kidnapping across Nasarawa State.(NAN)
