Fear grips Nigerian music community over spate of kidnapping of crews on highways

Barely 24 hours after the alleged kidnapping of an Abuja-based musician and crew members, fear has enveloped the Nigerian’s music community.

Gunmen reportedly kidnapped the Abuja-based singer and members of their crew along the Lokoja-Abuja expressway en route to Abuja on Sunday evening.

Per Second News gathered that the assailants have demanded a ransom of N10 million for each of the crew members abducted, prompting desperate efforts from their families and friends to secure their release.

The incident has sent shockwaves to the Nigerian music industry, particularly among travelling bands, who now grapple with palpable anxiety over the escalating kidnapping and general insecurity across the country.

Expressing deep concern, Juju artistes and other musicians accustomed to frequent travels for performances are worried about their safety on the highways.

Femi Oladele, popularly known as Femi Solar, a music star and Jasa gospel crooner, shared the distressing news on Sunday night, revealing his personal connection to the precarious situation.

Having traversed the same road regularly with his crew, Femi Solar said he was devastated by the development and called on authorities to intensify efforts in securing all roads.

As the spate of kidnapping has sent the music community reeling, there is a growing consensus that urgent measures are needed to address the pervasive insecurity in the country.

Artists and their teams, who often crisscross the country for performances, find themselves caught in a dilemma, torn between pursuing their passion and ensuring their safety amid the rising threat of criminal activities.