Daniel Bwala, a former aide to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, has expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu will take effective measures to address the escalating issues of banditry and kidnapping in the country.
Bwala’s hopeful outlook comes in the wake of disturbing reports of bandits kidnapping residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and demanding a staggering ransom of N700 million. According to reports, the Sagwari Layout Estate Dutse in Abuja was recently thrown into chaos when kidnappers, armed with highly sophisticated weapons, abducted ten individuals, subsequently killing three of them to intensify pressure on their families negotiating the ransom.
The assailants, initially demanding N60 million per person, have now raised their ransom demands to N100 million per victim, totaling N700 million as the sole condition for the release of the remaining hostages.
In response to the crisis, Daniel Bwala took to social media, specifically X, to share his perspective on the matter. He emphasized the need for innovative solutions and urged the heads of intelligence organizations and security agencies to think “outside the box” to address the prevailing carnage.
Bwala proposed the constitution of a National Security Advisory Council, comprising seven members, including serving and retired heads of security and intelligence organizations such as the State Security Service (SSS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Police. He believes that such a council would bring together a consensus of national security experts to formulate lasting solutions to combat the challenges posed by banditry and kidnapping.
As the nation grapples with the crisis, Bwala’s call for a collaborative and strategic approach underscores the urgency of addressing the complex security issues affecting the country.
