Press Statement: Enough Is Enough: The Rising Wave of Abductions Across Nigeria Requires Urgent Actions Not Media Announcements. I write with deep concern over the alarming and unacceptable rise in kidnappings and mass abductions across the country. These repeated attacks on innocent citizens demand urgent national attention and a coordinated, intelligence-driven security response.
There are several incidents that have not made the news, even as a number of other cases have recently received public attention, including the abduction of the sister of the former Minister of Power, Mr. Adelabu, and her two children; the abduction of seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State; as well as attacks in Oyo State reportedly resulting in the abduction of 39 students and teachers in the Ahoro Esinele community, Oriire Local Government Area. In Borno State, 42 pupils from Mussa community in Askira Uba LGA were also reportedly abducted.
Collectively, these reported incidents amount to over 90 abducted persons, in addition to several other unreported or less publicized cases across the country.
Behind every number is a human life. Behind every statistic is a family in distress and a community living in fear. While we acknowledge and commend the efforts of our security agencies, the persistence of these attacks makes it clear that we must urgently strengthen intelligence coordination, improve proactive prevention, and enhance rapid response capacity across all levels.
I therefore call for immediate and sustained rescue operations to ensure the safe return of all abducted persons, and for a more decisive national strategy to prevent further occurrences. Nigeria cannot and must not normalize mass abductions. The time for firm, coordinated action is now.
May God protect our nation and bring all abducted citizens home safely.
Signed
Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai
Member.
Kaduna North Federal Constituency
Chairman, Committee on Banking Regulations.
June 3, 2026.
Teachers in northeastern Nigeria march in Maiduguri demanding the release of 42 abducted schoolchildren in Borno State and stronger school protection.
Al Jazeera’s Felix Nyawara reports.
Anyone who accepts N5,000 and noodles to vote for any candidate in Katsina State should be prepared to face the consEquencEs. We will identify and ExpOse them, regardless of their age, status, or position.
—Man took the streets of Katsina state
Today, I had a One-Man Protest at the United Nations Office, Abuja where I submitted a letter of appeal for international support in rescuing our children currently in the captivity of kidnappers. Also, I submitted Letters of Appeal to the US Embassy and the UK High Commission, Abuja.
The world should not abandon us at this time. Every parent, every human, everyone must speak out. Our children must be brought back home, safe. Please lend your support.
Thank you.
PS: was also joined by 2 Patriots who identified with the pain of kids being left in the custody of kidnappers.
Thank you Mr. Chinedu and Wisdom.
The biggest mystery in Nigeria today is not the terrorists, It is the silence.
The North is facing one of the worst security crises in its history, yet many political leaders, elders, and power brokers behave as though everything is normal. A region that once spoke with one voice against injustice now whispers while its people suffer.
The question is simple: AREWA IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
ONE NATION, UNEQUAL RESPONSES: INSECURITY AND THE POLITICS OF REGIONAL FAVOURITISM
The worsening insecurity across Northern Nigeria has exposed a disturbing pattern in the nation's security architecture as some lives appear to matter more than others.
From Zamfara to Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and parts of Kaduna and Niger States, communities are under siege. Kidnappings, killings and bandit attacks have become daily occurrences. Villages are attacked, travellers are abducted, and families are forced to pay ransoms to criminals while government response remains largely routine and predictable.
Yet, whenever similar incidents occur in parts of the Southwest, the response is often swift, coordinated and forceful. The recent abduction incident in Ogbomoso attracted immediate national attention and significant security deployment. Such urgency is commendable, but it raises an uncomfortable question: why is the same level of seriousness rarely demonstrated when innocent citizens are abducted daily in Zamfara, Katsina or Sokoto?
The recent abduction of General Rabe Abubakar rtd in Katsina should have triggered a robust national response and renewed urgency in tackling insecurity in the North. Instead, it quickly faded from the national conversation while thousands of ordinary citizens continue to suffer in silence.
Even more disappointing is the hypocrisy and silence of many Northern political leaders. While their people are being killed, kidnapped and displaced, many have chosen political loyalty over courageous leadership. Their silence has become both troubling and shameful. Leaders who cannot speak for their people in moments of pain have abandoned the very essence of leadership.
Nigeria cannot continue to operate a system where security emergencies receive different levels of attention depending on where they occur. A citizen in Zamfara deserves the same protection as a citizen in Lagos, Ibadan or Ogbomoso. Anything less undermines the principles of justice, equity and national unity.
The North is bleeding. Its people are crying for help. The Federal Government must stop treating insecurity as a regional issue and confront it as a national emergency. Equally, Northern leaders must find their voice and demand action rather than remain comfortable spectators to the suffering of their people.
A nation that responds selectively to the pain of its citizens is not only failing in its duty rather it is sowing the seeds of deeper division and distrust.
@officialABAT@atiku@PeterObi@KwankwasoRM@AbbaM_Abiyos@OfficialAPCNg@POTUS@elrufai@B_ELRUFAI@AbbaM_Abiyos@abdool_moh@BashirAhmaad@ComradeAI@Mindset_Spaces@BelloGaladanchi@Bellomatawalle1@PoliceNG@HQNigerianArmy@ShehuSani@renoomokri@_dinomelaye@AWTambuwal@_kingtundeedunt@OfficialSojaboy