Minna/Lagos — Kidnappers who abducted the Niger state Permanent Secretary in charge of Youth Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Umar, yesterday along Suleja/ Diko express way, are demanding a N30 million ransom before their victim could be released.
The Permanent Secretary was said to be on his way from Zaria, Kaduna state, where he is currently pursuing a post graduate programme at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, when he was kidnapped.
Also yesterday, unknown gunmen kidnapped Nollywood popular actor/comedian, Nkem Owoh, a.k.a Osuofia, along Enugu-Port Harcourt express way, demanding N15 million ransom. His kidnap came barely few months after the ace actor, Pete Edochie, was kidnapped at Afor-Nkpor in the Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.
Wife of the kidnapped Niger state government official, Hajiya Maimuna Umar, said her husband called her around 9 pm on Sunday to tell her of his plight, adding that while she was on phone with him, the kidnappers collected the phone from her, asking her to make available the sum of N30 million as ransom for her husband's release.
She said after ordering her to remain close to her phone for further instructions, they switched off the line on her. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Richard Oguche, when contacted confirmed the report, saying his command had dispatched two units of armed policemen out to track the kidnappers.
He disclosed that information reaching the command confirmed that the permanent secretary has been taken to Zaria in his car by six people who are holding him hostage.
"We are on top of the issue as we have sent two units of policemen to track down the kidnappers who abducted the permanent secretary along Suleja/ Diko express way while returning from Zaria," he said.
"While the police are doing their best to bring the man back in good health, anybody with useful information about the case should please assist the police in tracking the kidnappers, " he said.
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The alarming new trend of 'big people' kidnapping is an indication of the failure of good governance in Nigeria. This situation is likely to get worse, unless those in power realise that, the millions of Nigerians inneed of employment must be attended to. This is easy, for any right thinking, honest leader to do. Job creation should be the main concern of government, not contract-signing and embarking on useless money wasting ventures. It must be accepted that each Nigerian is capable of being great, but he or she must be given the chance to enleash their talents for the common good. I hope those responsible for the welfare of the people will invest more on job creation than on impossible deterants. I hope also the kidnappers would realise that some of their victims are also victims, like them, of a product of irresponsible planning and endless deception. The best thing to do is to change the system rather than to destroy everything and every one.