The Senate at its session on 4th May, 2016 unanimously agreed to pass a law prescribing capital punishment for kidnapping after considering the report of its Joint Committees on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence on the “Unfortunate Recurrence of Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking in Nigeria.”. It will be recalled that the Senate had mandated the aforementioned Committees in November 2015 to invite the Inspector General of Police, Director General, Department of State Security and the Minister of Interior to explain their efforts in eliminating the menace.
According to the Joint Committees Report, an interactive session held with the Heads of Security agencies provided a useful guide in articulating the Committee’s framework as it observed that:
- Kidnapping started in the Niger Delta area with foreigners but nothing serious was done to stop it.
- That Security agencies are tackling the issue of kidnapping and hostage taking.
- That Kidnapping and hostage taking is a nationwide phenomenon.
- That the mode of operation of the kidnappers is well-known to the security agencies.
- That Security agencies ability to perform optimally is hampered by inadequate funding.
- That there appears to be an unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry amongst security agencies leading to a lack of synergy and intelligence sharing.
- That the payment of ransom by relatives encourages criminals.
Speaking on the report, Sen. Ibn Bala N’allah (APC:Kebbi) stated that the failure of security agencies to enforce the law had resulted in the rise of kidnapping. Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC:Kebbi) also analyzed its effect from an economic standpoint as foreign investors had become reluctant to invest in Nigeria. Sen. Ben Bruce (PDP:Bayelsa) and Sen. Ovie Omo-agege (LP: Delta) also suggested the public trial of kidnappers, community policing and an increase in intelligence sharing as methods to discourage the crime.
In addition to a law prescribing capital punishment for kidnapping, the Senate has recommended the adequate training, retraining and funding of the security agencies, the enactment of laws by State Governments to prosecute kidnappers and the promotion of intelligence sharing among security agencies. The Inspector General of Police and Director-General of the Department of State Security have also been encouraged to do more to tackle this problem.
