NUJ condemns abduction of Kaduna journalists, families

The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned the abduction of its members in the state.

The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by the council’s Chairman, Asma’u Halilu, and the Secretary, Gambo Sanga, issued in Kaduna on Sunday.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that some bandits on Saturday night invaded the Dahjonu community in Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists.

The bandits kidnapped The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Blueprint newspaper’s AbdulRaheem Abdu, as well as their wives and children, at about 10:30 pm.

Alabelewe is also the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.

According to the statement, the NUJ described the abduction of its members and their families as unfortunate and appealed to the security agencies in the state to rescue the captives from the kidnappers’ den.

The statement reads, “NUJ has received with shock, the brazen and barbaric attack by suspected kidnappers.

‘The attack resulted in the abduction of the Kaduna State Correspondents of The Nation Newspaper and the Blue Newspaper, alongside their families last night at their residences in Danhono area, a Kaduna suburb, in Chikun LGA.

“We strongly condemn the ugly incident and appeal to the security agencies in the state to swing into action with a view to rescuing the journalists and their families from the kidnappers’ den.”

The council also urged the federal and state governments to take the security of lives and property of the citizens as a priority and asked journalists in the state to be vigilant in their daily activities.

It added, “We implore the government at all levels to intensify efforts towards guaranteeing the security of lives and property of the citizens at all times.

‘The ugly phenomenon of kidnapping in Kaduna and its environs is now resurfacing and must be checked to avert the experiences of the recent past.

“The Kaduna State Council of NUJ, however, enjoined all practising journalists in the state to be vigilant in their daily activities while also praying for the safe return of their abducted colleagues and their families.”

NAN