The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has strongly condemned the abduction of two journalists, their wives, and children by suspected kidnappers in the state.
The victims, Abdulgafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Abdu, are correspondents for The Nation and Blueprint newspapers, respectively.
The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by the council’s Chairman, Asma’u Halilu, and the Secretary, Gambo Sanga, issued in Kaduna on Sunday.
According to the statement, the NUJ described the abduction of its members and their families as unfortunate and appealed to the security agencies in the state to rescue the captives from the kidnappers’ den.
The statement reads, “NUJ has 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 Blue Newspaper, alongside their families last night at their residences in Danhono area, a Kaduna suburb, in Chikun LGA.
“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 council also urged the federal and state governments to take the security of lives and property of the citizens as a priority and asked journalists in the state to be vigilant in their daily activities.
It added, “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 its 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.”
