Kaduna State, Nigeria — The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two journalists, Abdulgafar Alabelewe of the Nation newspaper and Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper, along with their family members.
The incident occurred in the Danhonu community of Millennium City, Chikun local government area, Kaduna State. Armed men raided the reporters’ houses and abducted them, their wives, and their children.
ASP Mansir Hassan, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Kaduna State Command, confirmed the abduction and assured that the police are making concerted efforts to rescue the victims unhurt.
Taofeeq Olayemi, a family member of one of the victims, recounted the harrowing experience. According to Olayemi, the bandits stormed the community at about 10:30 pm on Saturday, firing sporadically before kidnapping Alabelewe, his wife, and two of his children. They also abducted Alhaji Aodu and his wife, leaving behind their sick daughter.
In response to the abduction, the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) issued a statement condemning the incident. The NUJ appealed to security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the journalists and their families. The statement expressed dismay over the abduction of the innocent journalists and their families and urged the government to intensify efforts to ensure the security of lives and property.
The NUJ stressed the urgency of addressing the resurgence of kidnapping in Kaduna and its environs to prevent a return to the violent experiences of the recent past. The Council also called on all practising journalists in the state to remain vigilant in their daily activities and prayed for the safe return of their abducted colleagues and their families.
