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Despite the recent abductions and killings in the country, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has expressed confidence in the country’s safety, stating that it remains one of the safest places to live in the world.
In an opinion piece released on Wednesday titled ‘Time to temper the headlines on Nigeria’s security challenges,’ Onanuga claimed that Nigeria is safer than South Africa and the United States.
The presidential aide was reacting to recent reports regarding the alarming number of Nigerians who have been abducted during the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.
“This sweeping generalisation conveyed by the newspaper does not match the reality lived by the people,” he stated.
Civil society groups, under the aegis of the Civil Society Joint Action Group, said 17,469 Nigerians were abducted during the administrations of Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, starting from 2019 to date.
During a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, the Civil Society Joint Action Group shared that 2,423 persons lost their lives, while 1,872 individuals have been reported as abducted since President Tinubu assumed office.
Of the 17,469 individuals who have been kidnapped since 2019, the majority of cases, 90 per cent, occurred during Buhari’s tenure, with the remaining 10 per cent happening under Tinubu.
According to the presidential aide, Nigeria does not rank among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of abductions.
He emphasised the importance of recognising the efforts the government has been making to combat insecurity since 2009.
He wrote, “The frightening headlines on Tuesday were based on the report by the Civil Society Joint Action Group that calls for an emergency on the security situation, surprisingly oblivious that our security agencies have been working in that spirit for a long time, since 2009.
“Our security agencies deserve society’s appreciation for their efforts so far, in trying to nip in the bud the evils of kidnapping, banditry, communal killings and terrorism in our country.
“Their efforts, most often understated, have made our country safer at least than South Africa or the United States, where 44,310 people were killed last year in gun violence.
“South Africa faces a worsening insecurity than Nigeria. In 2023, 15,343 people were kidnapped, with Gauteng Province, where. the City of Johannesburg, the commercial capital, is located recording 7,818 cases of kidnapping for ransom. Ten years ago in 2013, there were only 3,822 cases of kidnapping. They jumped to 11,000 in 2021 and have been on the upward curve since then.”
He urged citizens and the media to acknowledge and appreciate the government’s efforts to eradicate violent crimes.
