I’m ready to die in the hands of kidnappers – El-Rufai’s wife

 

 

 Wife of Kaduna state Governor Hajiya Asia el-Rufai has asked Nigerians to be ready to make sacrifices to end banditry and kidnapping.

The governor’s wife said in event of her kidnap, she was ready to die if that would be her own sacrifice of ending the menace. 

She made the remarks Wednesday in Kaduna while addressing participants at a peace and security training, organised for women in the state by Equal Access International (EAI). 

The training, according to EAI’s Country Director Maaji Peters was aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security (CIVSEC) that would make contributions and decisions on issues affecting them and their communities.  

Speaking on communal clashes witnessed in parts of Kaduna state, Hajiya el-Rufai told the women drawn from Chikun, Kajuru and Jama’a local government areas to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians and work for the unity of the state.

Governor el-Rufai’s wife, who was the guest of honour at the event, said Nigerians must get back their once peaceful country, stating that women have a great role to play in achieving that.

She said: “We must sacrifice to bring this to an end. I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.

 “For as long as you continue to pay ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire, you are giving bandits, kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay ransom. This is my personal opinion. 

“I have said it before and I will say it again, if I am kidnapped, don’t pay any ransom. Rather pray for me that if it is death, I go in a good way and if I am going to be released that I am not violated.  

“As long as we are giving them the money and they hurt people around, they will not change. Collectively, as a country we have to say no, we cannot continue to give them our hard earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children. 

“If we don’t put a stop to this, they will destroy us all. They will even kidnap the person that takes the ransom to them. You will see that some of them you even give them the ransom and they kill the person, so you have lost twice.”

N10m ransom on varsity lecturer

Meanwhile, the abductors of a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Art, University of Jos, Mr. Dan Ella, have demanded a ransom of N10 million to secure his release.

Chairman Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) of the institution, Lazarus Maigoro, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Wednesday in Jos.

NAN reports that gunmen abducted Ella in the early hours of Wednesday at his residence, Haske Quarters, Lamingo community of Jos North local government area of Plateau state.

“This is a sad development; gunmen coming after our members who are just average Nigerians.

 “As I speak, the kidnappers have put a demand for a ransom of N10 million to secure his release,” he said.

The ASUU chairman called on security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the release of his colleague.

He also urged the personnel to be proactive in addressing the security challenges in the country.