In a tragic and shocking turn of events, the 74-year-old Emir of Gobir in Gawata, Sokoto State, Alhaji Isah Muhammad Bawa, who was abducted by bandits last month, has been killed by his captors after weeks of failed ransom negotiations.
The traditional ruler was kidnapped alongside his son on Sabon Birni road while returning to his hometown after a meeting in Sokoto.
The kidnappers initially demanded a staggering N1 billion ransom for the release of the Emir.
However, after three weeks of unsuccessful negotiations, during which the bandits reportedly tortured and dehumanized the monarch, they executed him.
In a heart-wrenching video that went viral, the Emir was seen tied up, pleading with the state government, friends, and family to pay the ransom to secure his release.
The situation took a further grim turn when the bandits demanded N60 million and six motorbikes for the release of the Emir’s corpse after his execution, compounding the anguish of his family and community.
The news of the Emir’s death has sparked nationwide outrage, with many Nigerians expressing disbelief at the failure of security agencies to rescue the monarch despite ongoing ransom negotiations.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly concerning the inefficiency of security agencies in tracking down the kidnappers who communicated openly with the Emir’s family via mobile phones.
A concerned citizen’s reaction, which trended online last week, encapsulated the anger and frustration felt across the nation:
“All these were going on, yet we have DSS, NIA, EFCC, ICPC, Army, Navy, Air Force, and other paramilitary agencies…
So if we can’t track calls made by kidnappers and know their location in this modern era, what’s the use of communication, telecommunications, information, and other nonsense ministries?”
The Emir’s abduction and murder are part of a broader, disturbing trend of kidnappings across Nigeria, where criminals operate with impunity, often using mobile phones to negotiate ransoms.
Despite the availability of technology that could potentially track these calls and lead to the apprehension of the culprits, security agencies have repeatedly failed to act effectively.
In another recent case, a young man was kidnapped in Delta State while visiting his farmland in Onitsha-Ugbo.
His family paid an N18 million ransom, only to discover the young man had been killed and left at the designated pickup point.
Despite ongoing communication with the kidnappers, security forces have yet to apprehend those responsible.
Similarly, on August 15, 2024, 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were abducted along the Otukpo-Enugu highway.
The kidnappers demanded N50 million for their release, and although the students were freed after nine days in captivity, questions remain about the inability of security agencies to locate and arrest the culprits.
The failures of Nigeria’s security agencies have been attributed to several factors, including the deterioration of critical infrastructure meant to track and apprehend kidnappers.
The Nigeria Police Force’s once-effective tracking system, installed in 2015, has reportedly fallen into disrepair due to neglect by successive leadership, leading to a breakdown in its functionality.
A retired senior police officer lamented the situation: “The priority of successive IGPs was quite different… Before long, the system broke down, and the functionality of the Police tracking equipment began to diminish and subsequently went comatose.”
Although the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly reactivated the tracking device, kidnappers continue to evade capture, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the system.
According to security personnel, the reluctance to pursue kidnappers is often due to the high risks involved and the lack of adequate resources to support their efforts.
There are also growing frustrations within the ranks of the police force, with officers feeling unrecognized and unrewarded for their hard work.
This lack of motivation, coupled with inadequate support, has further hampered efforts to combat the kidnapping epidemic plaguing the country.
To address these issues, experts and concerned citizens alike are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security apparatus.
They emphasize the need for advanced technology, adequate resources, and a shift from reactive to proactive strategies in tackling kidnapping.
There is also a pressing need for the Federal Government to address the root causes of this scourge, including poverty, unemployment, and social inequality.
As the nation mourns the loss of the Emir of Gobir, the larger concern remains: how many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken to end the reign of terror by kidnappers in Nigeria?
