Gunmen have abducted the lawmaker representing Pankshin South Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Laven Denty Jacob.
The Lawmaker was seized on Monday night from his residence in Angwan Kagji area of Dong in Jos North Local Council of the state.
A close aide, who had served the legislator during his time as Vice Chairman of Pankshin council area under Simon Lalong’s administration, said the incident happened around 7.30 p.m.
He narrated that while at the entrance of his residence, waiting for his security man to open the gate, three masked men attacked the lawmaker and forcefully whisked him away from his vehicle to an unknown destination.
At the time of this report, discussions were ongoing regarding steps to rescue the captive by the legislative chamber.
The matter has been reported to security agencies, who have yet to confirm the incident.
But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, told The Guardian in a telephone interview that he was aware of the situation.
He, however, promised to issue a press statement much later.
Meanwhile, a Professor of Political Economics at the Political Science Department of the University of Jos, Pam Dung Sha, has submitted that Nigerians pay more attention to internal causes than external ones, referencing the current violent extremism in the Northcentral, with regard to banditry.
He said a good approach and handling were needed to curtail the prevailing terrorism and banditry in the country.
The don spoke yesterday at a lecture and symposium, organised by the university’s Alumni Association, in partnership with the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences.
Sha reasoned that violent extremism by attackers and terrorists was more frequent in Central Nigeria than in any other zone.
He was to speak on “Violence and Insecurity in Central Nigeria: Nature, Causes, Policy Responses and Remedies for Sustainable Peace and Development”, but changed the topic to “Violent Extremism in Central Nigeria.”
According to him, North Central or Central Nigeria is the hotbed of terrorism because of its good weather, fertile land, mineral resources and hospitality, adding that all these factors have a link to conflict and violent extremism.
He stated that all the happenings are politically motivated violence.
Sha said banditry and terrorism were thriving because of the attached profit, stating that kidnapping has become not just an income, but a profitable illicit venture.
In his remarks, the Alumni Global President, Dr. Gad Shamaki, welcomed the guests to the Golden Jubilee of the University.
He said the 50 years are not just a number, but a story of resilience, triumphs and trials of a dream nurtured by men and women, who believed in the power of education to change lives.
