Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said it is shameful that the nation’s minister of information and national orientation is publicly showcasing the rescued journalists kidnapped by terrorists last weekend in Kaduna State just as the Rights group said the central government alongside the sub-national governments should re-introduce the enforcement of the death penalty and public execution of kidnappers.

HURIWA argued that: “Kidnappers should be routinely executed publicly in their state capital of origin or local council of origin once the court of law determines their involvement in the dastardly criminal act of kidnappings and murders. The moratorium on the use of the death penalty must be lifted because we are in a war situation with terrorists and kidnappers in the present-day Nigeria. Once the court of competent jurisdiction determines speedily the guilt of the kidnappers and then validated by the Appellate courts, then the state should carry out public execution of these kidnappers watched by their people and families. This will serve as effective deterrence or send strong warning to other would-be kidnappers to stay away from crime.”

The rights group affirmed that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had on Sunday publicly welcomed the release of two-Kaduna based journalists who were abducted from their homes in the outskirts of Kaduna last weekend. Speaking when he received the two journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspapers and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint newspapers, from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the minister lauded security agencies for the ‘speedy’ recovery of the victims.

The two journalists were released along with Mr Alabelewe’s wife and two children. Mohammed also expressed sympathy to the two families. “We are most grateful for what you have done. We are aware that this is part of your ongoing effort to ensure that all kidnapped victims are rescued alive and reunited with their families.

“I want to urge Nigerians to keep faith with the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and our security agencies. The security agencies under the coordination of the NSA are working tirelessly to ensure that all those who have been taken into unlawful custody are freed without paying any ransom,” Idris said.

HURIWA which described the action of the minister of Information and National Orientation in publicly showcasing the rescued journalists as a celebration of mediocrity because according to the Rights group, advanced societies have put in place effective, efficient, time-tested, time-honoured and technologically guided methodologies for preventing such large-scale attacks on the citizens by terrorists, kidnappers, armed non-state actors and mass murderers.

In a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko stated thus: “What is the celebration of the release of the kidnapped all about? Has this administration no shame that citizens are routinely kidnapped, and many killed in the process, yet here was the information and National orientation minister celebrating the release of some citizens kidnapped successfully by kidnappers and then release or is it rescued we will call it? This government should please take steps to protect the citizens since the primary constitutional duty of the government is the protection of lives and property of citizens and safeguarding the well-being and welfare of the citizens.”

HURIWA recalled that in the past two months, Nigeria has seen a notable increase in kidnapping incidents:

In Abuja, On June 24, 2024, over 30 people were kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, and on July 7, 2024, 10 individuals were abducted in the Dutse-Alhaji area by assailants disguised as military personnel.

In Kogi State, On July 3, 2024, 19 worshippers were kidnapped from a mosque in a violent attack as part of ongoing bandit activities.

These incidents highlight the increasing boldness of kidnappers and the urgent need for improved security measures. Also since coming to office, 4,556 fatalities and 7,086 abductions were recorded according to a data gathered from the armed conflict location and event data project (ACLED) a global data hub that collects real-time conflict-related data.

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