38 Days In Captivity: SOS to Chief of Air Staff on the release of Shuaibu Umar Bashir
By Muhammad Umar Faruk
On 20th of August, 2023, Bandits were said to have kidnapped a Nigerian Air Force officer, ACM Shuaibu Umar Bashir, along Birnin Gwari Road in Niger State.
According to Sahara Reporters, its gathered from a family source that the ACM Bashir has since been held by the bandits for the past 38 days now, despite efforts made by the family to make sure their loved one regains his freedom from the hands of the criminals, however, no success has been made yet.
ACM Shuaibu Umar, from all indication had been a gallant and devoted officer of the Nigerian Air force, who sacrificed his tears, sweat & blood for his country. He had always put his life on the line when it comes to affairs of the state. So at a time like this, it will be best we worked assidiously to rescue him.
At first it was known that the terrorists demanded N10 million ransom within three days of holding him hostage from the relatives of the officer.
The incident of the kidnap happened when ACM Bashir was going back to his station to resume duty at his post.
“The NAF authorities and the military are yet to engage with the family of the captured officer which have made them very worried and thrown them in the state of fear and panic. The family of the officer have tried getting a feedback from the Nigerian Air Force but up to now it has been to no avail. The Officer had been mobilised to Niger State. But he was kidnapped along Birnin Gwari Road in Niger State,” a family source revealed.
“He was kidnapped on Sunday, and the military appears not to be doing enough to get him out,” another source added.
The NAF has not yet released any official response or made any statement on the abduction of the officer which in turn has made some of his colleagues very worried about their beloved brother in arms and as well their own overall safety in terms of unforseen circumstances.
This is a call on the Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air force (Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar) to kindly look into the matter and do the needful, by promptly addressing this issue. It will provide a strong authoritative ground and moral support that will boost the moral of the entire officers especially the rank and file.
Much more patriotism will be rekindled in their minds knowing full well that whenever unforseen circumstances arise they will always have a backup from the Force.
I just hope with rekindled optimism that this matter will be taken seriously because Bashir’s life is at stake and Nigeria can’t afford to mourn another vibrant and resourceful soul.
As President Bola Tinubu’s administration seeks to win the war against insurgency and other forms of criminality it would be most demoralising if those that should quell the violences are ignored when its counts most.
There is no better way to capture this thought of a country man, in dire need for rescue, attention, than to pen a Save Our Soul plea to the number one Air Force officer in Nigeria.
Muhammad Umar Faruk, is a Journalist, Entrepreneur and Good Governance Analyst.
The date isn’t correct it should be 2023 not 2022. May Almighty Allah Intervene into this matter. Ameen.
Nice one