The Professor Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned in strong terms the recent kidnappings of two Kaduna-based journalists along with their family members, describing the acts as “heinous and unacceptable.”

This was even as the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, while condemning the incident, called for the immediate release of the two journalists their family members.

The WHISTLER reports that two journalists – The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe and his Blueprint newspaper’s counterpart, AbdulRaheem Aodu, their wives as well as children were on Saturday night kidnapped by some bandits.

The bandits had in large numbers invaded their Dahono Community in the Millennium City axis of Chikun Local Government Area of the state around 10:30pm.

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

The NEF expressed deep concern over the development especially the increasing incidents of kidnappings targeting members of the media, emphasizing the urgent need for decisive action to ensure the immediate rescue of all individuals currently held captive.

Director of Publicity and Advocacy for NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, on Monday, stated, “The continued targeted kidnappings of journalists, such as the harrowing abduction of Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspaper, his wife, two children, and Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper, are not only disheartening but also deeply worrisome. This trend poses a significant threat to the safety of journalists and their families, and could potentially escalate into greater conflict and confusion if left unaddressed.”

The NEF emphasized that the lives of journalists and their families should never be endangered, calling on the government to take immediate and effective steps to secure their safe release.

“The kidnapping of Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu, and their family members is a shocking and unacceptable act that demands immediate action.

“We urge the government to act swiftly to ensure their release, alive and unhurt.”
In addition to calling for government intervention, the NEF has extended its support to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, sharing in their anxiety and concerns over the safety of their colleagues.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the abducted journalists and their families during this distressing time.

“We urge all Nigerians to join us in praying for the safe return of the captives,” the statement stated.

It added that the Northern Elders Forum remained steadfast in its commitment to the protection of journalists and the freedom of the press, urging enhanced security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

On its part, the leadership of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has described as unacceptable the targeted kidnap of the two journalists and their family members.

AYCF President General, Alhaji Yerima Shettima in a statement in Kaduna on Monday, condemned the incident and demanded for the release of the abductees.

He, therefore, called on relevant government authorities and security agencies to swing into action and ensure their safe release.

Shettima said, “The news of the kidnap of two Kaduna based journalists Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Abdulraheem Aodu of blueprint newspaper and some of their family members is very shocking and worrisome and totally unacceptable.

“Journalists shouldn’t be target of kidnap because they are very key sector of the society providing needed information for growth and development of the society.

“I wish to appeal to government and security agencies to intensify efforts to see to their safe release and ensure an end is put to this kind of barbaric incidence.

“I also call for prayers for their safe release and for them to be reunited with their families, and also for quick recovery for the wife of Abdulraheem who was initially kidnapped and dumped in the bush due to her health condition.”