By Society Assistant Editor
Ninolowo Gbamboye
Nigeria is once again gripped by the twin tragedies of insecurity and betrayal. In Nasarawa State, a nursing mother abducted alongside another woman on Sunday night is crying out in despair as her captors demand a N50 million ransom. Meanwhile, in a separate development, a military court has sentenced three Nigerian soldiers to life imprisonment for selling weapons to terrorists, a shocking betrayal that has shaken confidence in the nation’s armed forces.
The young mother, who was kidnapped just months after giving birth, is said to be enduring unimaginable suffering in the forest. According to a source close to her family, she has been separated from her three-month-old baby and forced to endure harsh conditions while in captivity. In a desperate phone call overheard by relatives, she wept, pleading: “My baby, my baby, who will help me out of this calamity? Somebody please help me out of this forest of pain.”
Her plight has sparked outrage, with sympathisers urging security agencies to act swiftly. The family says the abductors remain unyielding in their N50 million ransom demand, leaving them in anguish and fear for her survival.
In Plateau State, gunmen also struck on Monday night, abducting lawmaker Laven Jacob at his residence in Jos North. Security forces have launched a rescue operation, but at press time, his whereabouts remain unknown.
While families grapple with the pain of kidnapping, the Nigerian Army announced the conviction of four soldiers for aiding terrorists in the North-East. Sgt. Raphael Ameh, Sgt. Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje were sentenced to life in prison, while Cpl. Omitoye Rufus received a 15-year jail term.
Investigations revealed the soldiers conspired with corrupt police officers to smuggle arms hidden in bags of beans, selling rifles and ammunition to terrorists and militias. Bank records showed over 100 suspicious transactions linked to these illegal deals.
Delivering judgment, the president of the special court-martial, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, condemned the soldiers’ actions as “a betrayal of trust and honour,” warning that the army maintains zero tolerance for misconduct and treasonous activity.
These two grim developments highlight the depth of Nigeria’s security crisis — ordinary citizens torn from their families by kidnappers while those sworn to protect the country betray it for money. For many, the stories of a grieving mother in captivity and treasonous soldiers behind bars reflect the painful reality of a nation at war with itself.
