By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS—Condemnation and need to improve security in the country, yesterday continued to greet Sunday’s abduction of four journalists and their driver in Abia State.

Among those who condemned the act and sought immediate freedom for the captives were the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lawyer League for Human Rights, LLHR and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.

The NCS delegation led by Comptroller Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos, Mr Emma Kane, paid a solidarity visit to the Lagos NUJ chapter to assure its support in finding solution to the problem.

Kane expressed deep regrets over the development, wondering why journalists could be the target of kidnappers.

Speaking at Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Kane noted that Journalists were Customs’ partners in progress who always disseminated information to the larger society.

The Customs however, appealed to the abductors to release the kidnapped journalists for the sake of humanity while pledging every support possible to the union.

Before their departure, the customs delegation on behalf of the CG, Abullai Dikko, also paid a solidarity visit to the families of the victims at Arepo, Journalists Estate, residence along Lagos Ibadan Expressway.
A delegation of Lagos chapter of NIPR, led by its Chairman, also visited the state NUJ.

The LLHR in a statement by its President Mr. Jiti Ogunye, deplored the abduction, saying, “the incessant spate of kidnap across the country, especially in the South- South region, to put it mildly, translates to what could be regarded as a state of emergency in the security system in the country.”

It implored all the security agencies in Akwa- Ibom State and it’s neighbouring states to ensure all was done to extricate the journalists from the jaws of the hoodlums.

Also reacting, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said it was high time the Federal Government developed the political will to deal with the issue of kidnaping and other insecurity situations.
Ogun noted that insecurity in the country had reached a precarious level across the country, saying “it is evident from various reports that the security agencies in their present state cannot tackle this daunting challenge as they are ill equipped and lack modern technology and methods of detecting, combating as well as arresting the crimes even at the planning stage. I think what the government needs is the political will to deal with the issue once and for all and address all other insecurity situations and crises that dot every landscape of the country.