DLA gives FG 14-day ultimatum to tackle worsening kidnapping crisis

The Democratic Leadership Alliance has issued a 14-day notice to the Federal Government to unveil concrete measures to tackle the worsening wave of kidnappings across the country, warning that Nigerians are increasingly living in fear while criminal gangs continue to operate with alarming impunity.

In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Judith Aguenu, the party expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity in many parts of the country, describing kidnapping as a national crisis that now threatens lives, economic activities and social stability.

The DLA said recent efforts by the Federal Government, including the planned recruitment of 1,000 forest guards, have failed to convince Nigerians that authorities fully appreciate the scale of the challenge.

“The recent decision of the Federal Government to recruit 1,000 forest guards as part of its response to insecurity has done little to reassure Nigerians that the administration fully understands the magnitude of the kidnapping crisis currently threatening lives, livelihoods, and national stability,” the statement said.

The party noted that abductions have become a recurring feature of daily life across the country, with citizens being kidnapped on highways, in their homes, schools, farms, places of worship and communities.

“Today, millions of Nigerians live in fear. Hardly a day passes without reports of citizens being abducted from highways, homes, schools, farms, places of worship, and communities. The fear of kidnapping has become a major obstacle to freedom of movement, economic activities, agricultural production, and social development,” it stated.

The opposition party said the impact of the crisis is being felt most severely in rural communities where farmers are increasingly abandoning their farmlands over safety concerns, worsening food production challenges and economic hardship.

According to the DLA, many of its members across the country have been directly affected by the deteriorating security situation.

“Farmers are abandoning their farms, businesses are relocating, families are living under constant fear, and communities are increasingly vulnerable to criminal elements,” the party said.

The statement comes against the backdrop of persistent reports of mass abductions and ransom-related crimes in several states, particularly in parts of the North-West, North-Central and some areas of the South. Security experts and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that kidnapping has evolved into a lucrative criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, unemployment, porous borders and the proliferation of illegal weapons.

The DLA argued that the response to the crisis must go beyond military and security deployments, insisting that underlying economic and governance issues also require urgent attention.

“We maintain that the solution to kidnapping cannot be limited to security deployments alone. Government must address the economic conditions that fuel criminality, strengthen intelligence gathering, tackle corruption within public institutions, improve security coordination, deploy modern surveillance technology, and ensure swift prosecution of criminal offenders and their sponsors,” the party stated.

Calling on President Bola Tinubu to take more decisive action, the party urged the Federal Government to formally declare the kidnapping crisis a national emergency.

“We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare the kidnapping epidemic a national emergency and immediately activate stronger policies and coordinated actions capable of reversing the current trend,” it said.

The party subsequently issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to demonstrate measurable progress in addressing the menace.

“Accordingly, the Democratic Leadership Alliance hereby issues a 14-day notice to the Federal Government to unveil and commence the implementation of practical and measurable actions aimed specifically at reducing kidnapping and restoring public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.”

It warned that failure to act within the stipulated period could prompt the party to explore legal and democratic avenues to draw attention to the security challenges facing Nigerians.

“Failure to demonstrate meaningful progress within this period will compel the Party to pursue lawful democratic measures, including public advocacy, strategic engagement with national and international stakeholders, and legal actions where necessary to draw attention to the plight of Nigerians and the urgent need for government intervention,” the statement added.

The DLA maintained that protecting lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government and urged authorities to take urgent steps to restore public confidence in the nation’s security system.

“Nigeria cannot continue on this dangerous path. The protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, and Nigerians deserve to live without fear of abduction, ransom demands, or violent criminal attacks,” the party said.