Bandits have demanded an exorbitant ransom of N40 trillion, along with vehicles and motorcycles, for the release of the abducted 16 residents of the Gonin Gora area of the Kaduna metropolis.
The situation, which has once again highlighted the pervasive insecurity plaguing Nigeria, has stirred outcry across the country.
According to John Yusuf, a community leader in Gonin Gora, the bandits have demanded an unprecedented ransom of N40 trillion, along with 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles, for the release of the 16 abducted individuals.
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The community has expressed profound shock and helplessness in the face of such astronomical demands, highlighting the impossibility of meeting them.
Yusuf further lamented that the bandits have targeted the community twice within a week, underscoring the vulnerability of the area to criminal incursions. He called for urgent government intervention, including the establishment of a military base to curb the activities of the criminals.
He said: “The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans, and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive.
“Where are we going to get this kind of money! Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria as a country has never made a budget of N40 trillion.”
He expressed dismay over the expansive bushes surrounding the community and Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state, urging the establishment of a military base to curb the activities of criminals.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by establishing a military base behind our community where the bandits take advantage of the bushes to invade our community,” he said.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by establishing a military base behind our community where the bandits take advantage of the bushes to invade our community.
“From our community down to Birnin Gwari which is over 150 kilometres is a stretch of bush.
“We also have another stretch of bushes from Gonin Gora down to Niger state.
“So when the criminals have free access through the bushes to our community. We are pleading with the government to help us” the community leaders pleaded.”
Nigerians call out the government
In response to the escalating insecurity, concerned Nigerians have raised pertinent questions and called for decisive action.
The magnitude of the ransom demand, amounting to N40 trillion, is said to underscore the audacity and brazenness of criminal elements operating within Nigeria. Frank Nweke Jr, a former Minister of Information, aptly describes the emergence of the kidnap sector as a thriving enterprise, indicative of the deep-rooted insecurity gripping the nation.
“The kidnap sector has emerged as the fastest-growing and most lucrative sector of our national economy. Like the Nigeria stock exchange, a kidnap exchange may shortly emerge,” he said.
Nweke’s analysis of the ransom demand in relation to Nigeria’s economic and national budget paints a stark picture of the enormity of the challenge. He noted that the demand represents a significant portion of Nigeria’s external reserves and exceeds the entire budget allocated to security services for the year 2024.
He said: “4O trillion Naira @1555/$1 is the equivalent of $24.6 billion and represents 3/4 of Nigeria’s current external reserves. It is 1.5 times Nigeria’s 2024 budget of 28.7 trillion naira, equivalent to $ 17.6 billion. It is 2105% of the entire budget of 1.9 trillion Naira for Nigeria’s security services for 2024.
“By the time the Borno and Sokoto thieves send in their demands, Nigeria’s residual value may be insufficient to buy Nigeria’s stolen citizens back.”
The former minister added that nothing else questions the legitimacy of government more strongly than these kinds of demands, calling on the government to take a resolute stance against insecurity to remain relevant.
Dr. Ogho Okiti highlights the complexity of the security situation and emphasizes the need for deeper scrutiny of the operations of security forces and their efforts to combat criminal groups.
“It is, no doubt, a complex problem. To peel the “onions,” we must ask some questions: So far, it appears the security forces don’t know many of these groups,” he asked. “Why? What’s happened to those who have been caught in the past? What’s the extent of collusion in these matters?”
Another Nigerian, Idoko Mole criticizes the government’s handling of security issues, noting the existence of “ungoverned spaces” and calling for accountability and improved governance.
“Those who are in charge of governance (securing lives & properties) have coined the word “ungoverned spaces” & by implications “ungoverned people”.
We can do better if we don’t have this set of “ungoverned govt”, The Govt is responsible for insecurity,” he said.
Another concerned citizen, Alex, expresses frustration at the lack of accountability and preventive measures following previous abductions, such as the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.
“It’s very unfortunate that when we didn’t learn any lesson since the #ChibokSchoolGirls abduction and no measures were put in place to forestall future occurance. The painful thing is that nobody has ever seen punish/sacked for any of these abductions,” another Nigerian named Alex noted.