Amnesty International has lamented the spate of kidnap for ransom in Nigeria, saying it is now part of daily life and citizens are living on a knife edge.

“Rampant kidnapping by armed groups has become a part of daily life in #Nigeria,” said Amnesty International. “People in Nigeria are living on a knife edge.” 

It added, “Widespread insecurity and chaos have been exacerbated by routine kidnapping, as armed groups tighten their stranglehold on the country.” 

The human rights organisation, in a series of tweets on Monday, said the number of citizens in kidnappers’ captivity is unknown, lamenting the torture, rape and starvation they suffer in the hands of their captors. 

“The number of Nigerians in custody of armed groups and kidnappers is unknown. But the victim usually suffers shocking abuses. Several abducted women and girls, including school children, have been viciously raped while in captivity.

“Those kidnapped by armed groups are routinely tortured. Many are beaten, starved, threatened with death, raped, held blindfolded for several days, verbally and physically assaulted,” Amnesty International said.

Amnesty International’s statement on rising cases of kidnappings in the country comes after some cases of kidnapping were reported.

Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, said security agencies are working to tackle the menace, asking Peoples Gazette to speak with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

“Security agencies are trying their best to curb this problem,” said Mr Onanuga. “The IGP, Kayode Egetokun, said they are on top of the situation, doing their utmost best to arrest all these kidnappings happening in several parts of Nigeria. But I think the best is to talk to the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.” 

On January 9, bandits kidnapped Najeebat, her five sisters and her father in the Bwari Local Government Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The father was later released on January 12 to source for N60 million ransom for the girls, while Nejeebah was killed on Saturday as her father made efforts to raise the ransom to free them.

On Sunday, The Gazette reported how a former communications and digital economy minister, Isa Pantami, said one of his friends donated N50 million to complete the 60 million ransom demanded by kidnappers for the release of the five Najeebah sisters.