Worried by the incessant cases of kidnapping in Nigeria, the Senate has resolved to enact a law prescribing death penalty for kidnappers.
This, it believed, would serve as deterrent and curb the menace, which analysts say has assumed the status of a ‘profitable business enterprise.’
This followed the adoption of recommendations of the report by the Joint Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence on the “Unfortunate reoccurrence of kidnapping and hostage taking.”
Although the report had only six recommendations, senators called for stringent punishment to serve as deterrent, which prompted the addition and adoption of the death penalty. The additional recommendation for capital punishment was proposed by Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central).
The Senate also resolved that the funding of security agencies be taken as a priority project, while efforts should be geared to create employment opportunity to the teaming unemployed youths.
Senate also resolved that the security agencies should embark on training and re-training of their personnel, while also urging state governments to enact laws to aid prosecution of kidnappers.
The Senate also advocated for more vigorous information sharing among security agencies, while also encouraging heads of security agencies to do more in checkmating kidnapping.
While presenting the report of the Joint Committee, Abu Ibrahim (APC Katsina South) said kidnapping, which started in some regions, had now become a nation-wide menace.
Ibrahim noted that the security agencies knew the mode of operations of the kidnappers but were usually hampered by availability of funds.
The report further noted that there was undue rivalry between security agencies, which brought about lack of synergy.
Some of the senators who spoke insisted that kidnapping had remained prevalent because there was no appropriate punishment meted out to kidnappers, while others submitted that the practice of paying ransoms rather than waiting for security agencies to apprehend the culprits had made the `kidnapping business profitable.’
