By Emma Peter, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of Ahmed Zakka, his wife and their infant child, who were reportedly abducted in Kaduna State.
Atiku made the call while reacting to a disturbing video of Zakka, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the persistent insecurity threatening lives and separating families across Nigeria.
He expressed concern over the ordeal of the family, particularly the involvement of an infant, and urged security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to rescue the victims and other Nigerians still held in captivity.
According to him, no Nigerian should be forced to plead for their life or the safety of their loved ones in the hands of criminals.
The former vice president also linked the country’s security challenges to the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians, noting that rising costs of food, transportation and other essential commodities had already placed enormous pressure on families.
He said insecurity further worsened the situation by disrupting livelihoods, deepening hardship and imposing emotional and financial burdens on affected families.
Atiku urged the government to move beyond assurances and implement a sustained response capable of rescuing kidnapped victims, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling criminal networks responsible for abductions.
He maintained that every Nigerian deserved to live, work and raise a family without the constant fear of violence.
The former vice president expressed solidarity with the Zakka family and other families enduring the trauma of kidnapping, stressing that the protection of lives must remain a primary responsibility of government.
