By Milcah Tanimu

The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has expressed solidarity with the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) following the abduction of two journalists and their family members over the weekend.

In a statement issued on Monday, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank, condemned the incident and called for urgent action from security agencies to secure the immediate release of the victims.

“We received with shock and sadness the news of the abduction of Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspaper, along with his wife and two children, and Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper,” Yakubu stated.

He emphasized the need for government authorities and security agencies to intensify efforts towards ensuring the safe return of the abducted journalists and their families.

“As a think tank with a strong working relationship with journalists in Kaduna and across the country, we stand united against such heinous acts,” Yakubu continued. “Journalists play a vital role in society by providing essential information, and they should not be subjected to such dangers.”

Yakubu urged the NUJ members and the affected families to remain steadfast and assured them of the support and prayers of the Arewa Think Tank community.

“We call on all well-meaning individuals to join in prayers for their safe release,” he added. “It is imperative that the government and security agencies act swiftly to bring an end to this barbaric trend of kidnapping in our country.”

The Arewa Think Tank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalists and advocating for their safety, emphasizing that an attack on journalists is an attack on freedom of speech and the entire society.