Two Nigerian journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe and Abdulraheem Aodu, and some members of their families have been kidnapped by gunmen in the same Danhono 2 community, Millenium City, in the Chikun Local Government Area Kaduna state.
Penpushing reports that the Alabelewe, is a correspondent for The Nation Newspaper and Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel in Kaduna state, while Aodu,is a correspondent for Blueprint Newspaper, with headquarters in Abuja
The Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel was kidnapped along with three members of his family, while Aodu, a correspondent for Blueprint Newspaper, was kidnapped alongside his wife, an incident which occurred on Saturday
Penpushing further reports that a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Adamu Yusuf, and another member of the union, Tajudeen Ajigbade, confirmed the incidents.
The Kaduna State Police Command, Public Relations Officer Mansir Hassan, confirmed the abductions to journalists, adding that as at the time of filing this report efforts are underway to locate and rescue the victims.
Penpushing also reports that no group as at the time of filing this report has come out to claimed responsibility for the abductions, and in same vein, the kidnappers are yet to contact family members of the abductees
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Council has condemned the kidnapping of the journalists and their families in a joint statement issued by the council’s Chairman, Asma’u Halilu, and the Secretary, Gambo Sanga,
‘NUJ received with shock, the brazen and barbaric attack by suspected kidnappers. The attack resulted in the abduction of the Kaduna State Correspondents of The Nation Newspaper and the BluePrint Newspaper, alongside their families last night at their residences in Danhono area, a Kaduna suburb, in Chikun LGA’, the council said.
“We strongly condemn the ugly incident and appeal to the security agencies in the state to swing into action with a view to rescuing the journalists and their families from the kidnappers’ den’, the statement added
Penpushing further reports that the union in the statement expressed dismay over the abduction of the journalists alongside their family members, and equally pleaded with government at all levels in working towards rescue of the victims
‘We implore the government at all levels to intensify efforts towards guaranteeing the security of lives and property of the citizens at all times. The ugly phenomenon of kidnapping in Kaduna and environs is now resurfacing and must be checked to avert the experiences of the recent past’.
‘The Kaduna State Council of NUJ, however, enjoined all practising journalists in the state to be vigilant in their daily activities while also praying for the safe return of their abducted colleagues and their families.”
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