Menace of abduction

Abduction has now become a generic word both in public and private discourse going by its prevalence in the country. The word is derived from “abduct”, meaning; to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force, especially to kidnap. Abduction now appears to be an emerging concern in Nigeria though it is not a new phenomenon. It is as old as the word itself. But the motive may vary from country to country. Since 1673, the word has been used to refer to the practice of stealing of children for use as servants or labourers in the American colonies. So it has come to mean any illegal capture or detention of a person or people against their will, regardless of age.
The abductors, who can be very erratic, have been found to engage in the criminality for several complex motives ranging from unemployment, idleness, vengeance, ritual and monetary gains to political reasons. Abduction gained currency in Nigeria started in 2006 when the militants of the Niger Delta took expatriates hostage to protest the inequalities in the region. According to the militants, Nigeria is built at the expense of the region which serves as the cash cow for the whole country. The action which started from abducting of expatriates has moved to men of God and their children, Nigerian politicians and their children, rich and prominent people in the society, traditional rulers, religious leaders, actors and actresses and of recent, the abduction of secondary school girls.
On the morning of 15th April 2014, Nigerians woke up to the sad news of the abduction of 276 female students from their school in Chibok, Borno State. It was a national disgrace and shows the incompetence of our security personnel. No one is safe in Nigeria anymore. Despite the efforts of Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group (BBOG) led by former minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili and the intervention of international bodies for the girls to be released, some of the girls are still being held captive. Some are even dead while some are going through some emotional and psychological trauma. Also, on 25th May 2017, six students of Lagos State Model Senior College, Igbonla-Epe, Lagos State were also abducted. As if that was not enough, on the 19th February 2018, another 110 school girls were also abducted from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State.
There have been many reports of kidnappping and abduction cases in Nigeria lately and the experiences of the victims were not palatable at all. Some of the females are being raped repeatedly, which results in unwanted pregnancies. While some go through the process of aborting the pregnancies, some end up having the babies. This serves as a constant reminder of the ungodly act. Most of them are even infected with s3xually transmitted diseases. Mrs Ronke Kehinde, the wife of the publisher newsmakersng.com, Dipo Kehinde, was lucky to escape from being abducted and this is her story. On her way back home, a lady gave her a flyer which was soaked in a potent street drug called Burundanga also known as scopolamine. When she noticed a strange feeling, she struggled to remain focused and drove home for safety.
We are elated to hear of the return of some victims and 104 among the 110 Dapchi school girls that were abducted. We urge the Federal Government and other competent authorities to continue securing the release and return of all abducted children and ensuring the arrest and prosecution of all involved in such activities. This appalling phenomenon, which is fuelled and sustained by impunity, will only come to an end when those involved are prosecuted without fear or favour. We call on the Nigerian authorities to put into place effective policies to protect minors from abduction and to prevail on all states to adopt and adhere to the provisions of the Child Rights Act. We also appeal to state and traditional authorities to respect the role and responsibilities of parents, and to uphold their right to oversee the religious and moral education of their children, in line with African tradition, with the Federal Constitution, and with international legislation to which Nigeria is a party. The entire human race needs a place they can call a safe haven and this can only be gotten by our collective efforts.

By Deborah Phillips,
Department Of Mass Communication,
Bayero University, Kano

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