Police declare State of Emergency over kidnapping

The Kaduna State Police Command on Tuesday declared a State of Emergency to stem rising cases of kidnapping in the state.

The command's spokesman, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, that a special team of anti kidnap squad has been formed to track and dislodge the criminal gangs.

He said the declaration of the state of emergency was on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

NAN reports that several people in towns and villages have been kidnapped for ransom by criminals in the last three months across the 23 local government areas of the state.

In some of the recent high profile kidnap cases, a Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Samaila Inusa, was reportedly killed by his abductors hours after he was held on March 25.

Similarly, Rev. Iliya Anthony, vice-president, United Church of Christ in Nigeria, died in the hands of his abductors recently.

The man was kidnapped along with the President of the Church, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau and Rev. Yakubu Dzarma, who were later released.

A former Executive Director, NNPC, and now a Director in Dangote Group, Mansur Ahmed, also regained his freedom after he was abducted recently in Kaduna.

Abubakar acknowledged the cases and said that the police had made several arrests and commenced prosecution of some of the suspected kidnappers.

According to him, 13 suspects have been charged to court while 15 others are under investigation.

He said the deployment of the new squad was to heighten the search for the criminal gangs and make the state safe from their nefarious activities.

The police spokesman appealed for more support from the general public in the renewed effort to rid the state of criminals.