Former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has urged President Bola Tinubu to honour Captain J.O. Abalaka, an Army officer who reportedly disarmed a member of the kidnapping gang that abducted him, his dog, and other captives in Kogi State.
The incident reportedly occurred while Abalaka was reporting to his new unit at the operational headquarters of the Maiduguri Command in Borno State from 29 Battalion, Port Harcourt.
While driving his Toyota Corolla with registration number LSR 22 AJ with his dog, the gunmen intercepted and abducted him along the road, according to a military signal obtained by SaharaReporters.
Omokri said in a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday that if he were President Tinubu, he would have invited Abalaka, claiming that no one deserves a presidential visit and handshake more than Captain Abalaka.
He said Abalaka’s bravery and chivalry, as well as his courage under pressure, are the types of positive leadership and values that should be projected to rebrand Nigeria and her apparatuses of state, like the Nigerian Army.
“If I were President Bola Tinubu, I would invite Captain J.O. Abalaka, the military officer who was abducted by bandits while in transit in Kogi State, yet managed to overpower them, seize their weapons, and free himself, as well as rescue other innocent Nigerians they had taken victim,” Omokri said.
“Nobody deserves a presidential visit and handshake like Captain Abalaka. His bravery and chivalry, as well as his courage under pressure, are the type of positive leadership and values that should be projected to rebrand Nigeria and her apparatuses of state, like the Nigerian Army.”
Omokri added the importance of changing the negative narratives often associated with Nigeria, both locally and internationally, arguing that acts of bravery, as demonstrated by Abalaka, can help shift the narrative.
With Nigeria’s Democracy Day approaching, Omokri noted that this is an opportunity for Tinubu to recognise Abalaka’s heroism, adding that Abalaka is a “poster boy for changing the narrative” and a “breath of fresh air” to the nation.
“Unfortunately, negative news about Nigeria tends to make headlines locally and internationally. We must change the narrative. And Captain Abalaka is a poster boy for changing the narrative with his heroic exploits, a breath of fresh air to our nation. Tomorrow is Democracy Day. It is an ideal opportunity for the present to project this authentic Nigerian superhero to the country and the world at large. I celebrate Captain J.O. Abalaka, and pray that God will bless our nation with more brave men like him.”
Insecurity is one of the many issues affecting Nigeria, with frequent reports of bandits killing and abducting people and security agents across the country.
Recently, 19 people were killed and several others injured in the Agojeju-Odo community in the Omala Local Government Area of Kogi.
A community member alleged that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught in the towns of Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.
