Oladosu Ariyo, the father of the tragically slain 13-year-old teenager, Folashade Ariyo, has confirmed the heartbreaking loss of his daughter.
He urgently calls upon the Nigeria Bar Association, led by Yakubu Maikyau, to intervene in rescuing the remaining members of his family.
The heart-wrenching incident unfolded in the Sagwari Estate Layout in the Dutsen-Alhaji area of the Federal Capital Territory. Kidnappers, disguised as military personnel, invaded the community on January 7 around 7:30 pm.
Among the 11 residents abducted were Folashade, three of her siblings, and her mother. Regrettably, three residents lost their lives, including Folashade, whose body was found near a former military checkpoint in Kaduna State.
The grief-stricken father, also a lawyer, revealed that despite raising N7m of the initially demanded N60m ransom, the kidnappers callously refused to accept it. Tragically, they proceeded to end the life of his 13-year-old daughter.
The kidnappers are now demanding an increased ransom of N100m for each of the remaining 11 victims, further intensifying the family’s anguish.
In a desperate plea on social media, Ariyo highlighted the dire situation, expressing concern for his wife and three other minor children still held captive. He decried the government’s failure to address the escalating insecurity in the country.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel Dalhatu, the Commissioner of the FCT Public Complaints Commission, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the FCT due to the rising insecurity, kidnappings, and frequent attacks on Abuja residents.
Dalhatu proposed the suspension of ongoing projects by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to prioritize residents’ safety. He also suggested the establishment of a civilian joint task force to combat insecurity in rural areas.
Acknowledging the efforts of security agencies, Dalhatu pointed out operational challenges such as manpower, equipment shortages, and irregular payments of operational allowances.
The community has taken proactive steps, initiating the construction of a fence at the base of the mountain, while the security man reported that Ariyo was not present during the incident.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT Police Command, ASP Josephine Adeh, declined to comment on the matter citing security reasons.
Efforts to reach the Director of Security in the FCT Administration, Adamu Gwary, proved unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls.
The situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the growing insecurity affecting communities and families.
