Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said banditry and kidnapping have become a major industry in the country that it won’t be a surprise if they apply for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and seek listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Atiku stated this while speaking at the National Dialogue and Public Presentation of a book, “Remaking Nigeria: Sixty years, Sixty Voices” in Abuja on Thursday, August 19.
The 74-year-old politician lamented at the manner at which bandits and kidnappers are allowed to openly to operate in the country.
He said, “We needed to fix Nigeria to avoid sleep-walking our way towards disaster. Yes, the Chibok girls had been kidnapped and held in captivity 7 years ago. Yes, conflicts between herders and farmers had been with us before 2016.
“But who would have thought that our country would become a haven for kidnappers and all manner of bandits to the extent that their nefarious activities would become a major industry?
“They have been allowed to operate so openly and brazenly that it would surprise no one if they applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission and listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“Five years ago, the Abuja – Kaduna Road was not a virtual no-go area. The South-East was not a virtual war-zone, and Amotekun was not needed to protect lives and property in the South-West.
“These are among the clearest evidence that the issues that were the focal point of the book that brought us here more than five years ago have become even worse.”