By Sun News Publishing
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
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The recent kidnap of Pa Michael Obi, the father of Nigerian football star, John Mikel Obi, in Jos, Plateau State and other high profile kidnap cases in various parts of the country, have once again brought to the fore the rising cases of kidnapping in the country.
A worrisome dimension to the kidnap saga now is the involvement of some of our security agents. In the instant case of Pa Obi, two soldiers were reportedly among members of the kidnap gang that were arrested in Kano by the Police before securing freedom for the victim.
In Edo State, Kidnappers also abducted a popular businessman and a top member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tes Sorae, and demanded for N100 million ransom. Before this, Mr. Ikpomwonsa Edebiri, a member of the Edo State Football Association, was earlier kidnapped on his way to the venue of the semi-final match between former African champions, Enyimba FC and Ocean Boys FC but has regained his freedom.
Also, in Lagos, Mrs. Olayanju Kusamotu-Thomas, the daughter of the late Dr. Hameed Kusamotu, erstwhile chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention was, last week, abducted at the Isheri-OPIC area of Lagos State. The 24-year-old woman left behind her five-month old baby.
The kidnap saga in Nnewi, Anambra State, has become so serious that the residents had to petition the Presidency, the Army and Police Chiefs to come and assist them over the menace of kidnapping in the area. As at the time of the petition, not less than 68 people have been kidnapped.
The story is virtually the same in all the geo-political zones of the country.
Why has kidnapping become a recurring decimal in our national life?
It will be recalled that kidnapping in Nigeria started in the Niger Delta region where it was deployed by restive youths as a weapon of protest against environmental degradation occasioned by years of crude oil exploration in the area. In fact, the restive youths used it to dissuade expatriates from engaging in oil business. It later degenerated to using kidnapping to extract huge ransom from families of the victims.
From Niger Delta, kidnapping berthed in the South-east zone and has since then thrived as a lucrative business. It is not surprising that kidnapping, as a virus, has spread to all parts of the country. It has also become a national disgrace because despite claims to stop it by security agents, the nefarious business is still booming. The worst now is that victims remain silent on the amount used to secure their freedom. A frightening dimension is the involvement of some of our security operatives in the kidnap trade.
It is rather unfortunate that kidnapping has become a way of life in Nigeria. The authorities should do something now so that such a mindset is never allowed to be. There are other lawful activities that our youths can engage in instead of kidnapping.
Rising cases of kidnapping after assurances by the security operatives that they will be nipped in the bud do not augur well for our entire security system. The kidnapping situation in the country is unacceptable. In short, our security agents stand indicted by the ugly development. It shows that they are not doing the work they are supposed to do. Kidnapping is a heinous crime and should not be treated with kid gloves.
Let them rise to the challenge posed by increasing cases of kidnapping in the country. The presidency should muster enough political will to tame the menace of kidnapping and other security issues in the country. The situation is already embarrassing. All hands must be on deck to check rising cases of kidnapping in the land.
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