By John Ogunsemore
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has berated Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris for what it called “showcasing” of the two rescued Kaduna journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu.
A statement from the minister’s office said Idris received Alabelewe of The Nation newspapers and Aodu of Blueprint newspapers, from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The minister commended the NSA and security agencies for the speedy recovery of the journalists, who were released along with Alabelewe’s wife and two children.
In a Monday statement, National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said it is shameful that the information minister is “publicly showcasing the rescued journalists”.
The rights group said the minister’s action was “a celebration of mediocrity” because advanced societies have put in place effective, efficient, time-tested, time-honoured and technologically guided methodologies for preventing such large-scale attacks on citizens by terrorists, kidnappers, armed non-state actors and mass murderers.
HURIWA charged the federal and state governments to re-introduce the enforcement of the death penalty and public execution of kidnappers.
HURIWA argued that “kidnappers should be routinely executed publicly in their state capital of origin or local council of origin once the court of law determines their involvement in the dastardly criminal act of kidnappings and murders”.
According to the rights group, the moratorium on the use of the death penalty must be lifted because the nation is in a war situation with terrorists and kidnappers in the present-day Nigeria.
“Once the court of competent jurisdiction determines speedily the guilt of the kidnappers and then validated by the Appellate courts, then the state should carry out public execution of these kidnappers watched by their people and families.
“This will serve as effective deterrence or send strong warning to other would-be kidnappers to stay away from crime,” the group said.
HURIWA recalled that Nigeria has seen a notable increase in kidnapping incidents in the past two months.
“In Abuja, on June 24, 2024, over 30 people were kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, and on July 7, 2024, 10 individuals were abducted in the Dutse-Alhaji area by assailants disguised as military personnel.
“In Kogi State, On July 3, 2024, 19 worshippers were kidnapped from a mosque in a violent attack as part of ongoing bandit activities.
“These incidents highlight the increasing boldness of kidnappers and the urgent need for improved security measures. Also since coming to office, 4,556 fatalities and 7,086 abductions were recorded according to a data gathered from the armed conflict location and event data project (ACLED), a global data hub that collects real-time conflict-related data,” the group said.