•No contact from kidnappers—Relative

•Northern elders, Arewa youths solicit speedy rescue

By Ibrahim HassanWuyo

Kaduna —About 72 hours after two journalists and their family members were abducted in the Danhonu community of Kaduna Millennium City; their whereabouts have remained unknown while their relatives continued to stay closer to their telephone hoping someone would call.

This came as the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, and the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, joined the growing list of groups and individuals condemning the abductions of the journalists and members of their families, describing their kidnap as heinous and unacceptable.

In their separate statements, NEF and AYCF, called on security agencies to ensure their unconditional and immediate release.

Recall that Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspaper, his wife, two children, and Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper, were Saturday abducted by bandits in Kaduna.

Abdulraheem’s wife who was abandoned in the bush by the terrorists after she was unable to walk due to ill health, had reunited with her ailing kid and was receiving treatment in a medical facility after the traumatic experience.

Taofeeq Olayemi, a family member, said no contact had been made with the families since the journalists were taken away, saying “It is a very trying period for the family because we do not know the situation they are in and we do not know where they are. We are just praying to Allah to protect them and soften the hearts of their abductors.”

The office of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kaduna NUJ was under lock and key with only a few workers and neighbouring shop owners discussing the sad incident in groups. Alhaji Alabelewe is the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Kaduna, Mansir Hassan, said operatives were trying their best to secure the release of the victims unharmed and have deployed their operatives into the bush where the kidnappers are suspected to be in the area.

It’s deeply worrisome—NEF

The NEF in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said: “The continued targeted kidnappings of journalists, such as the harrowing abduction of Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspaper, his wife, two children, and Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper, are not only disheartening but also deeply worrisome.

“This trend poses a significant threat to the safety of journalists and their families, and could potentially escalate into greater conflict and confusion if left unaddressed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the abducted journalists and their families during this distressing time.”

AYCF reacts

On its part, the President General of the forum, Yerima Shettima, in a statement, said: “The news of the kidnap of two Kaduna-based journalists, and some of their family members is very shocking and worrisome and unacceptable.

“Journalists should not be targets of kidnap because they are very important to the society providing needed information for the growth and development of the society.

“I wish to appeal to government and security agencies to intensify efforts to see to their safe release and ensure an end to this kind of barbaric incidence.”