Create Counter Kidnapping Squad

 On behalf of the Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative (CERLSI), we call on the Nigerian government to put adequate security measures in place to stem incessant kidnappings in the North West axis of Nigeria.

We make this plea because Nigerians in the North West are currently living with their hearts in their mouths, and sleeping with one eye open.  We cannot continue our work with them, and this is because these issues of insecurity are always in the way of our work in the area of capacity building and elections.

Our work in the areas of citizen engagement, elections, the rule of law and human rights and community advocacy is suffering.

The protection of lives and property, and the provision of security for the people is a primary constitutional reference point which governments the world over owe their citizens.  In the past administration of Muhammadu Buhari, these issues appeared to have been nipped in the bud. But we are taken aback that kidnapping and abductions have resurfaced in the North East and North Western parts of Nigeria.

We call on the Nigerian government to create a counter-kidnapping squad (CKS) which can function as a crack team of military, police, paramilitary personnel with a mandate to collect and manage intel in communities where these incidents of kidnapping for ransom prevail. Our people in the North West live precariously.

Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, Deputy Executive Director, Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative