The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of two journalists and their families in Kaduna, at the Danhonu community in Millennium City, Kaduna on Saturday night
ASP Mansir Hassan, the state command spokesman, assured journalists that police had deployed operatives to the bush where the kidnappers were suspected to be hiding with the hostages, stressing that the operatives were trying their best to secure their release.
He confirmed the names of the victims are Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kaduna State, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Council, and three of his family members, who were kidnapped at Danhono 2, Millennium City, Kaduna. Alabelewe is also the Correspondent of the Nation Newspaper.
Also taken hostage was the Correspondent of Blueprint Newspaper, Abdulraheem Aodo and his wife. However, wife of Aodu was released, yesterday morning due to ill health.
The President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, while reacting to the unfortunate incident, described the kidnap of the two journalists in such a barbaric manner is sad, unfortunate, totally condemnable and unacceptable.
He added, ” I have called on the security agencies, DSS, police, military to do all in their power to ensure that those journalists are rescued unharmed. Whether that is possible, I don’t know. I mean the aspect of not hurting them.”
He stated that from the story of the briefing he received, one of the journalists was beaten to stupor, saying that all they are praying is that they would be released to rejoin their families.
“You can imagine the trauma, the psychological effect on those little children, 10-year-old and eight-year-old,” he added.
He called on the government to do all that is necessary to get them out from the bandits, pointing out that one cannot leave sane people in the hands of such a level of insane characters.
