Fear Grips Nasarawa Residents As Criminals Lay Siege On Communities

BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Palpable and heightened fear have now enveloped communities in Nasarawa State following an increase in the rate of kidnapping and armed robbery incidences across the state.
Last week’s kidnapping and gruesome murder of the nephew and niece to former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who was an officer with the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Salisu Usman and his sister, Miss Sa’adatu Usman has further thrown the State into serious fear.
Pointedly put, residents are now leaving in serious fear of the unknown and therefore appealing for more surveillance on sleeping communities considered red spot for criminal elements.

Communities such as Sabon Gida in Kokona Local Government Area, Mararaba Udege in Nasarawa Local Government, and Mararaba area of Karu and Toto Local Government Area.
Already in the last few months, some individuals and personalities from different segments of the society in the state were either kidnapped or attacked.
A roll call of the victims showed that the Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe, who ambushed at Nasarawa Eggon during which six of his security aides were killed by deadly gunmen.

Similarly, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Masin was kidnapped and released after three days just as the traditional ruler of Ugah in Lafia, Abdullahi Magaji was kidnapped right in his house as well as the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Works, Mr Jibrin Giza and a reporter with TVC, Mr Godwin Agwam that were attacked among other prominent personalities in the state Even though Governor Abdullahi Sule has convened a security meeting with traditional rulers to find a way out of the serious matter and also vowed to fish out the killers of the nephew of Maku, the people of the state are of the view that more action is needed especially with the presence of more formation like the Special Army command situated in Doma, NAF Station Lafia, Mobile Police command, Akwanga, among others
Some other sources opined that the absence of some traditional rulers in their domain is causing serious impediment to the security architecture in the state as most of them are believed to have relocated to Lafia, the state capital leaving their subjects in limbo.
Their absence may have contributed to the collapse of artificial intelligence as people no longer trust their neighbors to share
confidential matters in the absence of the traditional rulers who are their custodian.
This was it was gathered that the failure of the State Government to fulfill its promise of
buying them vehicles and finance the traditional institution effectively is believed to have forced some of the traditional rulers to abandon their domain to seek for greener pastures to enable them finance their activities in their palaces.

Some observers however insist that it is not enough reason(s) for the traditional rulers to abandon their communities even as they are alluding that the monthly allocation to them is hardly enough to pay their bills as most Local Governments have about five to six graded chiefs ranging from First Class to Third Class.
Other reasons being adduced for the escalating rate in criminality is hinged on the fact that most of the populace particularly the electorates have lost confidence in political stakeholders and actors that have failed woefully to fulfil their campaign promises as such cannot call to seek some intelligence on the happenings within their communities.
As a result of the approach to governance by some of the elected public officers, some communities have resolved to keep a distance from anything government that has refused to provide them with basic amenities in terms of projects or appointments.

Going by opinions of some members of the public put together by our correspondent indicate that the demand for more funding for security agencies and allocation of operational vehicles to secure and police the state and intelligence sharing in addition to increase in personnel will assist reduce criminality in the state.