A Nation Under Siege Of Kidnappers

In recent times, the rising wave of kidnapping in Nigeria has been frightening. Kidnapping for huge ransoms is now the quickest way by unscrupulous Nigerians to get rich. It is now common for kidnappers to abduct individuals and demand for millions of naira before they free their victims.  The sad thing about this worrisome trend is that most of the kidnappers successfully get the ransoms and smile to the banks without being tracked down by security operatives.

Nigeria ranks as not only as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, it has now been ranked the sixth nation in the world where kidnapping holds sway. On the streets of the nation, people are brazenly abducted by gunmen who later demand huge ransoms  before they set free their victims.  The kidnappers target tourists, foreign investors, expatriate workers, educators, prominent lawyers, government officials, etc.

On 23 August, 2013, the kidnap of  lawyer and politician, Mike Ozekhome, further heightened the state of insecurity in the country. He was kidnapped along with three others while four police officers trying to rescue him and others from the kidnappers were shot dead.

Certainly, this is one kidnap too many and it further draws local and international attention to the poor state of security in the country. Aside Ozekhome, several others, like a Briton who was on his way from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, were abducted recently and released after huge ransoms were paid.

This unpleasant development is a clear indication that the Federal Government and security agents in the country have not lived up to the expectation of protecting the citizens and foreigners who are in the country. A government that is alive to its responsibility will not allow criminals to hold everybody hostage the way we are witnessing these days in this country. This is ostensibly a bad omen for Nigerians as security operatives have become toothless and ineffective in the face of this security challenge.

It is a fact that the rising rate of unemployment among youths, unbridled corruption and greed among public office holders have worsened cases of  kidnapping. Many young people have resorted to this dastardly act to get rich quick.

Let the federal, state and local governments rise up to this challenge and stop kidnappings across the country. The government  could take the youths away from this crime by creating massive employment for them. There are thousands of graduates roaming the streets of the nation in search of jobs. Once they are kept busy, the crime rate, especially kidnapping, will reduce.

States such as Edo, Delta, and Rivers among others that have witnessed an upsurge in kidnapping in recent times, should be properly policed to prevent kidnappers from having a field day as is the case today.

Those arrested in connection with kidnapping should no longer be treated with kid gloves. They should face severe punishment if found guilty by a law court. It is because of this desperate situation that some state governments have opted for the death penalty against those convicted for kidnapping.