As the year 2024 draws to an end and Nigerians embark on journeys to their respective home states, Nigerians planning to travel from across Nigeria, especially between the southern and northern parts of the country have demanded the establishment of forest guard to beef up security during the yuletide season.
They lamented that as air fare has escalated beyond the reach of the common man, embarking on journeys without being kidnapped has become a major concern to most Nigerians.
This is because travel from the south to northern Nigeria corridor has become so precarious that most passengers now embark on fasting and prayers before embarking on such trips, as there is hardly a week without incidents of kidnapping occurring on the nation’s highways.
The most recent victims were passengers God is Good Motors (GIGM) conveying travelers on the important and commercially viable corridor.
There were reports of how all 14 passengers travelling Port Harcourt to Abuja were abducted as gunmen attacked the vehicle around Obajana, near Lokoja in Kogi State on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
The unknown gunmen reportedly kidnapped the passengers on the bus, while the driver managed to escape. Available information as of the time of filing this report indicated that the kidnappers had demanded N100 million ransom to secure the release of the passengers.
It would be recalled that on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 12 passengers of GIGM and two passengers of ABC Transport en-route Abia State and Abuja were attacked by the armed men along the Kogi Expressway.
Much as the 14 abducted passengers later regained freedom after about five days later, they suffered untold hardship, as well as deep emotional and psychological trauma. It wasn’t clear if the N15 million ransom, which the kidnappers demanded to release each of the passengers, was paid or not.
Also, sometime in August this year, the Anambra State Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba and his wife were kidnapped on their way to Abuja for the wedding of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s daughter.
The victims, who later regained their freedom, were also kidnapped on the Kogi-Abuja corridor, just as gunmen also kidnapped no fewer than 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos along the Otukpo, Benue-Enugu road in Benue State.
The medical students, who were abducted on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FCMDS) Annual Convention in Enugu State were released after about 10 days.
Similarly, on Friday, October 11, 2024, 13 passengers traveling on a GIGM from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were kidnapped except a nursing mother whose baby was crying incessantly.
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There are several unreported cases, including the loss of lives on the Lokoja-Abuja highway and other corridors in Nigeria, but the ugly incident is are not specific to North and South corridor, as kidnapping and banditry also take place in most of the highways across the country, where vehicles have to traverse large expanse of unmanned and unguarded forest areas.
The insecurity is so severe that most Nigerians are now asking: For how long will the Federal Government wait to establish the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) for dedicated manning of the forest areas, to contain the criminals and ensure security and safety of Nigerians, especially travelers on the highways?
There are indications that the Federal Government is in support of the NFSS through an enabling Act in the National Assembly, to ensure that the forests will no longer be a no-man’s land, as they will fall under 24 hours surveillance, dedicated guard and security of the NFSS officers and men.
It would be recalled that the NFSS had earlier indicated that it has a strategic plan to not only maintain full presence and guard in all forests, but also ensure a clear view of all highways in the forest areas by clearing 10m on both sides of the expressway to discourage sudden attacks or ambush of motorists.
Nigerians expect the Federal Government to expedite action on the NFSS Bill at the National Assembly to save Nigerians from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and all forms of crimes that ungoverned and unmanned forests have foisted on the country.
As the country continues to suffer banditry, kidnappings and other forms of insecurity, Nigeria continues to lose precious lives; its international image is being battered daily as an unsafe country for business and investment, just as the situation gives an impression to the citizens and the international community that the Federal Government was incapable of protecting lives and properties in the country.
There is also the health related stress, as well as deep emotional and psychological trauma to the victims and their families; revenues are being lost through payment of ransoms; road transportation is being threatened, while the corporate image of affected companies are being smeared, among other devastating consequences.
