Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of Labour Party have blamed increased kidnappings and insecurity in Nigeria on “worsening hunger and poverty” under President Bola Tinubu’s watch. 

The duo through their respective X account condemned kidnapping, specifically the one involving Nejeebah killed while her father solicited donations to pay ransom.

“It is obvious that the worsening poverty and hunger in the land is escalating the level of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, the federal capital,” Mr Abubakar said in a tweet on Monday. 

He added that “Our youths and innocent citizens are being murdered daily. Just last Saturday, we lost Nabeeha to her captors. Yesterday, the tragedy deepened with the murder of more victims, including Folorunsho Ariyo, a 13-year-old student. Folorunsho was one of ten people kidnapped from Sagari Estate Layout in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, on January 7, 2024.”

Also, Mr Obi said kidnappings in “Abuja, the nation’s capital, is a clear pointer to how insecure the rest of the country now is.” 

“The reported tragic killing of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was kidnapped alongside her father and siblings in Abuja, by bandits, not only shows how insecurity currently ravages the nation, but also shows how helpless Nigerians have become in the face of these dangers,” Mr Obi said. 

 Nigerians have condemned the killing of Najeebah, while charging security agencies to ensure release of others held captive by bandits. 

Amnesty International on Monday lamented the spate of widespread kidnap for ransom in Nigeria, saying that kidnapping was now part of daily life and citizens were living on a knife edge.

However, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday told Peoples Gazette that security agencies were working to tackle the menace. 

“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 the kidnappings happening in several parts of Nigeria.”