Kidnapping of 7 Foreigners: Ekhomu wants FG to act fast, safely

Dr Ona Ekhomu of AISSON

President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON),  Dr. Ona Ekhomu has urged the Federal Government (FG) to urgently commit law enforcement, intelligence and counter-terrorism resources in locating and safely rescuing the seven foreign workers kidnapped today in Bauchi.

Speaking at the weekend on the kidnap, Ekhomu said that the international community was waiting to see how the Nigerian authorities will resolve the kidnap crisis. Stressing that the Bauchi kidnap incident was unfortunate as several nationalities were involved including British, Italian, Greek and Lebanese citizens.

"Our foreign partners are counting on the Nigerian security infrastructure to keep their citizens safe while they are in Nigeria. Therefore no security resource should be spared in the prompt and safe release of the foreign kidnap victims," he said.

Ekhomu noted that the kidnap operation was apparently executed by Boko Haram in consultation with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), adding, "the security breach must be understood in the context of Nigeria’s military action in Mali. The kidnap saga is meant to teach us a lesson for sending troops to Mali. This action is obviously one of those backlashes that we have anticipated will follow in the wake of Nigeria's military action in Mali."

The security expert also called on the Nigerian hosts of foreigners to conduct proper risk assessments prior to bringing them to Nigeria and particularly into volatile regions. 

He further advised that adequate security arrangement should be made to protect foreign guests in the country, pointing out that for the safety of the foreigners seized in Bauchi as other foreign kidnap cases involving Boko Haram and AQIM had tragic outcomes.

Recalling the killing of two foreign hostages in Sokoto by Boko Haram and that of a German in Kano both last year, Ekhomu emphasised that both cases the victims were killed when government security forces attempted rescue. 

Ekhomu, therefore, urged the government to work hard and rescue the captured foreigners in a timely manner in order to renew the confidence of the international community in our security agencies.

Ekhomu also paid tribute to the security personnel who were slain by attackers during the assault on the compound, soliciting government to pay compensation to the family of the guard as he laid down his life trying to protect foreign guests.

 


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