NASARAWA STATE RESIDENTS PROTEST RISING INSECURITY IN LAFIA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES 04-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu Residents of Nasarawa State, under the banner of the Daddare Youth Organization, staged a peaceful protest over the rising insecurity in Lafia, the state capital, and its surrounding areas.
Speaking to journalists at the Nasarawa State Police Command in Lafia after the protest, President of the Daddare Youth Organization, Comrade Sani Mohammed Dangwandara, stated that many residents have fled their communities due to the deteriorating security situation.
In recent months, residents of Lafia and neighboring communities have expressed increasing concerns over a surge in reported cases of kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, and attacks by unidentified gunmen.
In August 2024, a top government official was ambushed and killed at his residence in the Project Quarters of Lafia by unknown gunmen. Similarly, a nineteen-year-old undergraduate from a Moroccan university, who was visiting his aunt at the Project Quarters, was kidnapped and murdered on September 2, 2024, even after a ransom had been paid for his release.
Daddare, a community within the Obi Local Government Area, located just a few kilometers from Lafia, has experienced a series of kidnappings, armed robberies, and attacks by gunmen. These incidents prompted the youth in the area to organize a peaceful protest.
Comrade Dangwandara explained that the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of authorities to the worsening security situation. He noted that residents have been living in fear, particularly following the recent kidnapping of the wife and son of the local government APC Chairman. He urged the state government to take immediate action and deploy more security personnel to the area to curb the violence.
The Commissioner of Police for Nasarawa State, Mr. Shehu Nadada, acknowledged the isolated incidents of criminal activities in the Lafia metropolis and its environs. He assured that proactive measures are being taken to address the insecurity.
“The police and other security agencies in the state have requested additional reinforcements. I want to assure you that more operatives will arrive in the state soon. They will help us secure the major security flashpoints in the state,” Nadada said.
He also called on residents to remain vigilant and to provide relevant information to assist security agencies in carrying out their duties effectively.