By Farrau Abubakar
Kidnappers devised a new tactic to abduct young girls in Zaria. They use tricycles to abduct their victims, usually in the morning or evening. Their target are mostly young ladies on their way to any of the tertiary instititutions in the city. My cousin sister was also abducted yesterday on her way to school. They trapped her in a tricycle and took her away. They called and were demanding for 5 million Naira ransom. This is the third case I knew about within three weeks. We solicit for your prayers.
BREAKING: Niger Information Commissioner Kidnapped
Please be very vigilant when boarding tricycles around the city now. Avoid visibly brand new tricycles.
Women should avoid any tricycle with only male passengers or even without any passenger, especially when the route you are taking may be less crowdy.
When they stop to pick passengers, study them and survey the area, come down imidiately if you suspect them and head to where you can get a help. Avoid taking unknown commercial operators to deserted areas of the city early in the morning and late in the evening. Plan your trip so you don’t find yourself in a situation that you become stranded and desperate.
Don’t accept any request or attempt by the operators to change well known route to your destination no matter their reasons. Common excuses are possible holdups or they want to avoid KASTELEA and other possible security check points or they want to drop another passenger. Leave the vehicle and pay them up if they insist.
Advise your daughters and sisters to be security conscious, and if you can afford it, arrange for their trips to school. The managements of tertiary institutions in Zaria should please design lecture schedules so that students don’t stay beyond 5.00pm and have sufficient time to make it to their homes before sunsets.
May Allah protect us all.
Farrau Abubakar is a public affairs commentator
