Poverty, hunger escalating insecurity in Nigeria – Atiku laments

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lamented the killing of another of the captives abducted by kidnappers from their homes in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT).

Folorunsho Ariyo, a 13-year-old student, was one of 10 people kidnapped from Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, on January 7, 2024.

The kidnappers were said to have murdered more victims yesterday, including Folorunsho.

This came barely 24 hours after the killing of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyat, a 400-level student of Biological Science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, reports The Guardian.

“The escalating violence and lawlessness in our nation deeply distress me, as bandits and kidnappers continue their reign of terror unchecked. Our youths and innocent citizens are being murdered daily,” he wrote on his X (Twitter) handle.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections continued: “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.

“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.

“When the government fails to fulfil its constitutional obligations of protecting the lives and property of citizens, it is an invitation to kidnappers and other criminal elements to have a free reign, visiting houses and hotels in and around the capital city, kidnapping citizens without resistance. This is a sad development.

“It is imperative that the authorities address this dire security situation urgently to regain the trust of the Nigerian people.”