Why kidnappers shouldn’t be killed
The monster, knowingly and unknowingly, was created with the power crazy politicians when they nurtured thugs in all manner of forms – Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram, AKPF and other cultic associations. If the reason for suggesting death penalty is because the kidnappers do fleece people of their money when ransom is paid, then the […]
The monster, knowingly and unknowingly, was created with the power crazy politicians when they nurtured thugs in all manner of forms – Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram, AKPF and other cultic associations. If the reason for suggesting death penalty is because the kidnappers do fleece people of their money when ransom is paid, then the governors that take between N400million to N1.5billion monthly as security vote without giving the needed security to the citizens should also be punished severely because their actions and inactions have denied citizens of livelihood. Secondly, passing death sentence on kidnappers would make them become more daring because they would ensure that they kill their victims for fear of being identified when such victims are left off the hook.
The governors and politicians have all it would take to stop the activities of these hoodlums. Yet, they get settled after being used for elections thereby making the hoodlums see kidnapping for ransom as an alternative means of livelihood.
It will be recalled that some states like Akwa Ibom, Imo and few others had enacted laws that support death penalty for kidnappers but the position today shows that none has and will ever be convicted because most of the suspects are allegedly traceable as ‘government agents’ and were normally left off the hook after a while in detention. All those laws are purely window dressing. Recently, the Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, joined the bandwagon of those soliciting death sentences for convicted kidnappers. No matter who holds such opinion, it should be noted that if that becomes law, kidnappers would be more dangerous.
Chief Cosmos Erhabor, Mississippi Road, Maitama, Abuja