Civil Rights advocacy group on the aegis of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly to introduce legal frameworks to incorporate and designate kidnapping of citizens as acts of terrorism
HURIWA particularly tasked both the federal and state governments to enforce strictest legal sanction such as death penalty on convicted kidnappers.
This was as it called for the immediate lifting of the embargo or moratorium on the enforcement of the death penalty by State governors to ensure that terrorists that are already convicted get executed.
The rights group applauded the Edo State House of Assembly for designating kidnapping as a capital offence.
A statement by Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, particularly argued that in the past couple of years, dozens of kidnapped citizens have suffered gruesome deaths in the hands of their armed abductors.
Onwubiko noted the report of a 21-year-old student of the Federal University, Gusau who died in captivity four months after she was kidnapped alongside her two siblings, adding that the student, identified as Zarah Abubakar Shehu, was taken from her home in the Damba area of Gusau, Zamfara, in the early hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024, by suspected bandits.
According to HURIWA; “The kidnappers initially demanded N35 million to release the 300-level student but later agreed to accept N10 million. However, after receiving the ransom, the abductors refused to release Zarah, demanding four motorcycles and four cartons of engine oil before setting her free.
“The items were finally secured after months of efforts to meet the demands. When the kidnappers’ leader was informed, he contacted his men, who then revealed that Zarah had already died and was buried two days earlier”.
HURIWA cited the example of several incidents of kidnapping in the North West and North East in which the already members of designated terrorist groups have been identified as the kidnappers.
It further said; “Government must move quickly to safeguard the lives of the citizens by using the sledge hammer to deal a fatal blow on kidnappers who aren’t so different from terrorists”.
HURIWA recalled that Boko Haram terrorists have recently demanded a ransom of $500,000 for the release of the wife, police orderly, and driver of Justice Haruna Mshelia, a High Court judge in Borno State.
It said; “A family source disclosed that the terrorists rejected an initial offer of $50,000, insisting on the full $500,000 before releasing the remaining captives.
“Justice Mshelia was abducted on June 24, 2024, along with his wife, Binta Othman-a magistrate at Wulari Court in Maiduguri-his orderly, and his driver.
“The terrorists released Justice Mshelia on September 8 after a substantial ransom was paid, but only on the condition that he raises an additional $500,000 for his family’s release.
“We learned that the family managed to raise almost $50,000, but the insurgents turned down the offer, insisting on the full $500,000,” a source said.
HURIWA said this was as the Dean of the Technology Department at the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), Professor Abubakar Eljuma, remains in captivity.
HURIWA said it has become pertinent to make a strong case for violent abduction of citizens to be classified and designated as acts of terrorism.
It said that if the stringent steps being canvassed if implemented, would significantly curb the rising cases of kidnappings in the Country, stressing that the hydra headed monsters must be exterminated without any further inaction by the relevant authority.
