The National Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (NALBON) has decried incessant kidnap and robbery incidents on the nation’s highways.
The group says an intensified patrol and surveillance on the nation’s highways will quell cases of armed robbery, kidnap and other violent attacks by hoodlums.
The National Chairman of NALBON, Mr Joseph Ejiofor made the call in Onitsha while addressing newsmen on some of the security challenges facing the group.
Ejiofor said the call became imperative following the incessant attacks members and commuters plying the highways faced almost on a daily basis.
He said the frequent attacks were affecting the economic and social activities of members and Nigerians in general, urging that drastic measures be taken to overcome the security challenge.
He listed some of the major flash points where the criminals operate to include Benin by-pass, Omotosho-Ijebu Ode, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Nassarawa, Makurdi and Elele-Port Harcourt highways, among others.
According to him, these criminal elements operate unmolested with dangerous weapons including sophisticated guns and machetes.
“They block the roads, divert vehicles and passengers into the thick bush unchallenged and unleash terror on their victims. Sometimes the victims are held for up to a week.
“Some of them at Benin by-pass even confessed to victims recently that they are Fulani herdsmen, who had lived in the bush for many years.
“They also claimed that security operatives know that they occupy these bushes and so, nobody will come to their rescue unless they part with ransom or they lose their lives.
“The disturbing aspect of a recent Benin by-pass attack is that a victim, who returned from the United States of America vowed never to return to Nigeria unless the security condition improved,” he claimed.
Ejiofor described the recent killing of the former Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Badeh as “a sad development and condemnable in all ramifications”.
He noted that Badeh’s killing was one of such dastardly acts of the highway hoodlums.
“We therefore, call on the IG of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to deploy police formations to the affected areas to protect lives and property.
“A joint patrol of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, DSS and armed Civil Defense personnel should mount surveillance and carry out regular patrol to tackle this ugly trend, especially during the Yuletide.
“We have absolute confidence in the Nigeria Police to neutralize the activities of these fearless hoodlums, who have continued to terrorize our highways,” Ejiofor added.
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