The Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative (CERLSI) has called on the federal government to put adequate security measures in place to stem incessant kidnappings in the northwest.

Deputy Executive Director of CERLSI, Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, who made the call in Benin on Thursday, said that Nigerians in the North West of the country are currently living with their hearts in their mouths, and sleeping with only one eye open.

“The protection of lives and property, and the provision of security for the people is a primary constitutional reference point which governments the world over owe their citizens,” Etemiku said.

“In the past administration of Muhammadu Buhari, these issues appeared to have been nipped in the bud. But we are taken aback that kidnapping and abductions have resurfaced in the North East and North Western parts of Nigeria.”

Etemiku called on the government to create a counter-kidnapping squad (CKS) which he said can function as a crack team of military, police, and paramilitary personnel with a mandate to collect and manage intel in communities where these incidents of kidnapping for ransom prevail.

“Our people in the North West live precariously. We cannot work with them, and this is because these issues of insecurity are always in the way of our work in the area of capacity building and elections,” Etemiku said.

He added that CERLSI works to engage citizens on elections, rule of law and human rights and community advocacy.
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