Gunmen abduct two journalists, wives in Kaduna

Gunmen have abducted Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Abdulraheem Aodu, journalists with The Nation and Blueprint newspapers respectively, in Kaduna.

The abduction occurred on Saturday at Danhonu community, in the Millennium City area of Kaduna, around 10pm.

Alabelewe, chair of the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), was abducted alongside his wife and two children.

Aodu was also taken with his wife. Both journalists are neighbours.

Taofeeq Olayemi, a relation of the Blueprint journalist, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

Olayemi said the gunmen forced their way in by breaking through doors and windows to take their victims.

“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife, three of his children and a girl staying with him,” he said.

“But the girl was later asked to return with one of the children and they went away.

“They entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence, forced his bedroom open and picked him, his wife and two of their children and left immediately.”

The Kaduna council of the NUJ has condemned the abduction.

In a statement signed by Asmau Halilu and Gambo Santos, chairperson and secretary of the state council of the NUJ respectively, the council appealed to security agencies to rescue the victims.

The council also urged governments at all levels to intensify efforts towards guaranteeing the security of lives and property of citizens at all times.

“The ugly phenomenon of kidnapping in Kaduna and environs is now resurfacing and must be checked to avert the experiences of the recent past,” the statement reads.

Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna police command, is yet to comment on the incident.