One question to be asked the presidency is this: why do gunmen succeed in kidnapping innocent travellers on our expressways in Nigeria? The answer to the question is this: The gunmen who lay ambush for innocent travellers on our roads succeed in kidnapping them because these travellers have no security convoy to escort them to their destinations.
The blood of innocent Nigerian travellers has flowed on our expressways almost every week from the hands of gunmen who lay ambush to kidnap them.
On July 19, gunmen reportedly attacked and kidnapped five travellers and also killed two persons along the expressway at Omi Alafa Village in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State at 11 pm. There is freedom of movement in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (2011 as amended). It is not stated in the constitution that a Nigerian citizen can’t move around at about 11 pm.
The primary responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
Another unpleasant news story was also reported on July 8 when armed men laid ambush along the expressway and abducted the entire passengers in a bus at Okene in Kogi State. The gunmen moved the travellers into the forest where they began to call family members to demand for ransom. Where will family members of the kidnapped victims raise millions of naira to secure the release of their beloved ones from kidnappers’ den in the midst of this economic hardship?
Many Nigerians are afraid of travelling by road to their destinations for fear of being kidnapped.
I am well aware that President Bola Tinubu is in full control to stop the kidnappers along our expressways. The Federal Government of Nigeria must provide full security for those that are travelling on our expressways. These gunmen have operated unhindered long enough. I want to urge the president to direct all the relevant security agencies to man the forests along our expressways and flush out the kidnappers without any further delay.
Jimoh Mumin, Ibadan
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