ECOWAS Demands Immediate Release of Kidnapped Nigerian Children

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the recent kidnapping of 80 people, mostly women and teenagers, who were collecting firewood in northern Nigeria’s Zamfara state.

The regional bloc called for the immediate release of the children who were among those kidnapped.

Kidnappings in Zamfara, often for ransom, have been rampant in recent times. It is not clear who carried out the latest abductions. The incident is the latest in a wave of violent crimes sweeping across Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Friday, ECOWAS expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria and urged the government to take urgent measures to protect its citizens.

Last week, armed gangs killed more than 70 people in two separate attacks in the central state of Benue. In one of the attacks, a camp for internally displaced persons was targeted, and dozens were killed. Just a week ago, some residents of Umogidi, a remote village, were shot, and some decapitated.

The rising insecurity in Nigeria has become a major cause for concern in the region, with many fearing that it could destabilize the entire West African sub-region. The Nigerian government has come under intense pressure to find a lasting solution to the problem.

The country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has promised to tackle the insecurity head-on, but the situation has continued to deteriorate. Critics say that the government’s approach has been too weak and lacks the required political will to confront the issue.

ECOWAS has repeatedly called for greater cooperation among member states in the fight against insecurity. The regional bloc has also urged Nigeria to take the lead in the fight against terrorism and other forms of violent crimes in the region.

In conclusion, the latest kidnapping of children in northern Nigeria is a stark reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The government must take urgent action to address the root causes of the problem, including poverty, unemployment, and social inequality.

ECOWAS and the international community must also support Nigeria in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the problem of insecurity in the country.