Criminals Release Hostages For Sallah In Birnin Gwari; Pick Them Up Again – Makarfi

Former Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi has blamed in-fighting among the institutions of the Federal Government for the security challenges confronting the nation.

He made this known in an interview with The Sun published on Sunday.

The former Kaduna state governor said that the security situation in the country had become so bad that kidnappers now release victims during festive periods and threaten to pick them up again afterwards.

Makarfi, who is eyeing the presidential ticket of the PDP for the 2019 general election, said that the situation could not be allowed to continue.

While giving the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government kudos in some areas of security, he said, “Yes, I have to give the government credit in the area of Boko Haram, not that it has come to an end, but they have recorded some successes, you can’t take that away from them.

“But the successes recorded would have been more if not the rivalry among the institutions of government. If that is true, it is unfortunate.

“All arms of security must work together to tackle insecurity and insurgency wherever they exist.

“The herdsmen-farmers crisis has become herdsmen-community crisis. It is spreading like wildfire.

“The criminality along Birnin-Gwari and Zamfara axis has become worsened; cultism has worsen in some places.

“In Kaduna, we hear of Sarasuka. The insecurity elements are becoming numerous. If we allow this to spread further, the entire country will not be safe.

“We read recently where the governor of Zamfara State said he has resigned his position as the chief security officer of the state. Is it out of frustration or lack of capacity? There must be a reason.

“Somebody visited me from Birnin Gwari for Sallah felicitation and told me that the criminals released hostages to go home for Sallah, but warned them that they can come for them again.

“In Nigeria, criminals release you to go home for Sallah and tell you they will come back for you? Give me a break. We can do better and we must do better.”