The recent attack and abduction of Mr. Robo Iliya, a member of ECWA 1 Aso B, Mararaba in Karu local government area of Nasarawa state, is one of the unfortunate incidents on insecurity recorded in the area so far.
On Sunday, 15th October, 2023, around 11 pm, unknown gunmen broke into the house of Mr. Iliya, a member of ECWA church when it was raining, abducted him, while some members of the Iliya family were tortured and injured to disclose the whereabouts their father. Mr. Iliya had no choice than to come out of hiding and surrendered himself to prevent the abductors from further action that would have caused death. Mr. Iliya was equally tortured after surrendering himself before he was taking away by the abductors.
Being man of the people, the entire Aso B community, including those who are not even members of ECWA Church, wept profusely and prayed for his safety. In his compound, people from different churches gathered and were chanting: “May your generosity upon us set you free. May your good heart set you free; may the good Lord go before you,” and so on.
This is not the first time the incident of kidnapping or abduction of someone will be recorded in Aso B community and it will not be the last if something is not done quickly to address the growing and lucrative business of kidnapping. Aso B is a small community but every kind of crime can be seen there as majority of the youth are idle, doing everything possible to survive without minding the legality of what they do.
In a community where you see crimes happening without police arresting to bring the perpetrators to book, it is blatant to conclude that police work in collaboration with the perpetrators to ensure their safety and to gain from the proceeds of crimes.
I am calling on the commissioner of police in Nasarawa state to instruct his DPO at Mararaba to act fast and ensure the release of Mr. Robo Iliya before it is too late!
Awunah Pius Terwase,
human rights activist/public affairs commentator,
Mpape, Abuja
