Niger NUJ gives state government one-week ultimatum to rescue 136 kidnapped Tegina pupils

The Niger State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has given the state Government a one-week ultimatum to expedite action on the rescue of 136 kidnapped Tegina School Children and others still in captivity in the state.

The Journalists warned that if the state fails, a journalistic emergency by all media stakeholders would be declared to bring to fore the pains of those languishing in Kidnappers dens across the state.

This is contained in a Communique from the union’s congress held at the IBB Pen House Secretariat in Minna, jointly signed by Chairman Communique Drafting Committee, George Daniya and Secretary Uthman Siraja.

The members resolved the same method used in the release of the Honorable Commissioner for Information and the Zonal Vice Chairman of APC Zone C, be extended to the Tegina Islamiya children and others in the hands of kidnappers.

The Congress expressed concern over the high rate of kidnapping in the state, saying, farmers are now afraid of going to farm for fear of being kidnapped.

On the state of roads in the state, the Congress called on Niger State Government to ensure the speedy completion of Chanchaga-City Gate road as well as Mandela road in Minna metropolis.

They called on the Government to enforce the ban on heavy-duty vehicles on Bida-Minna road.

Members of the Union noted with concern the excessive use of force by the task force saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the ban on commercial motorcyclists in Minna operates.

The Congress then frowned at the situation in which a Journalist and the village head of Korokpa community in Paikoro Local Government of Niger State were assaulted and detained in the state police headquarters by the men of the task force.

“We are calling on the state government to check the excesses of the security personnel attached to the committee,” the Union further stated.