From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The leadership of the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has empathised with the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the kidnapping of two of its members and their family members last weekend.
The Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, in a statement on Monday, condemned the incident and called on security agencies to step up their efforts for the immediate release of the victims.
“We heard the news of the abduction of Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nations newspaper, his wife and two children, alongside Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper, with shock and sadness.
“We are therefore calling on relevant government authorities and security agencies to swing into serious action and ensure their safe release.
Read also: Media rights group demands action following abduction of Kaduna journalists
“We are also calling on spirited individuals to intensify prayers for their safe release and return.
“Arewa Think Tank has a good working relationship with journalists in Kaduna and across the country, but an injury to one is an injury to all.
“Inasmuch as we kick against anybody falling victim to kidnapping, we also believe that journalists shouldn’t be targets of kidnapping because they are a key sector of society, providing needed information for the growth and development of society.
“Arewa Think Tank shares in the present trauma the members of the NUJ are passing through because of their colleagues in captivity, and so we urge them to remain calm, continue to pray, with the assurance that they will be released soon, as security agencies are believed to be on top of the situation.
“Once again, we wish to appeal to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to see to their safe release and ensure an end is put to this kind of barbaric incident in the country,” the statement said.
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