By Monsurat Abisoye
The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to present concrete measures to address the worsening wave of kidnappings across the country, warning that Nigerians are increasingly living in fear as criminal gangs operate with growing impunity.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Judith Aguenu, the party described the situation as a national crisis that threatens lives, economic activities, and social stability. It said recent government efforts, including the planned recruitment of 1,000 forest guards, have failed to reassure citizens or reflect the scale of the kidnapping problem.
The DLA stated that abductions have become a daily occurrence across highways, homes, schools, farms, places of worship, and communities nationwide, noting that millions of Nigerians now live in fear. It added that rural communities are the worst affected, as farmers abandon their farmlands due to insecurity, worsening food production and economic hardship, while businesses relocate and families remain under constant threat.
The party said the crisis is particularly severe in the North-West, North-Central and parts of the South, where kidnapping has become a lucrative criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, unemployment, porous borders, and the proliferation of illegal weapons. It argued that government response must go beyond military deployment to include economic reforms, improved intelligence gathering, anti-corruption measures, stronger coordination among security agencies, modern surveillance technology, and swift prosecution of offenders and sponsors.
Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare kidnapping a national emergency, the DLA urged the Federal Government to immediately implement stronger coordinated policies to reverse the trend. It further warned that failure to show measurable progress within 14 days would force the party to pursue lawful democratic actions, including public advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and legal measures to draw attention to the crisis.
The party reiterated that protecting lives and property is the core responsibility of government, stressing that Nigerians deserve to live without fear of abduction, ransom demands, or violent attacks.
