The Nigerian nation today has only one, out of the six geopolitical zones it has that can be said to be relatively safe to live in. And that is the South West.
In addition to occasional excesses of Fulani Herdsmen, the rising wave of abduction of citizens in this region has become a serious source of worry to all.
In September, over 10 people have been reportedly abducted in Ondo State alone.
According to Police reports, the latest abduction in the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-state occurred somewhere in Oba Akoko, in the Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state.
The victims were said to be coming from Lagos in a Toyota Highlander and were on their way to Abuja.
The obvious role the government can play to arrest this development is to rehabilitate the country’s highways. It is no longer news that the Ile-Ife to Ilesa road has become a death trap. Kidnappers and others will easily have access to their victims because of the deplorable condition of the road.
Citizens on the other hand may have to try as much as possible to avoid traveling at night.
In addition, they must learn to moderate their lifestyles especially when on these highways. Because of pot holes, vehicles traveling must slow down and abductors are by this, given ample opportunities to assess their potential victims before striking.
Concerned security outfits, especially the Nigeria Police may need to be more present on these highways.
Citizens of Nigeria need to be given that sense of security to traverse from one section of the country to the other without the fear of being molested or abducted.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
