Law on Kidnapping: Matters Arising
By
Ezugwu Benson Whyte
ezugwu2008@yahoo.com
‘If the world is full of misery and
heart-break, pain, sickness and oppression, it is because we caused
it’’---Socrates
Kidnapping which started in the Niger
Delta region as a huge joke few years ago appears to have sky rocked
in recent times. Initially when the evil act began with the abduction
of the white oil workers by youths from the creeks of the Niger Delta,
some people hailed the boys, particularly opinion and political
leaders from the region.
While the ugly incident raged, other
parts of the country also viewed it as the exclusive problem of the
people of Niger Delta. The issue later graduated to the secondary
level such that some politicians began to use the boys to settle
political scores. From Bayelsa state where it all began to Rivers
state where kidnapping became a battle for supremacy by some renegade
groups, it spread like wild fire.
It could be said that the initial idea
of abducting white oil workers and taking them to the creeks, was to
draw the attention of the world on the environmental evils perpetrated
by the oil multinationals in the creeks of the Niger Delta region. And
actually the adventure paid off as the world quaked and some kind of
sympathy was drawn to the plight of the people.
Ironically, what began as a well planned
and executed adventure later turned out to be a misadventure and is
today threatening the good image of the entire country. In the build
up to the 2007 general elections, as usual it became a dig dung
affair. Political parties and their candidates in a win at all cost
syndrome, fought to outwit each other and in the process all tactics
were employed including kidnapping of political opponents and their
dependants. Innocent mothers, Fathers of political enemies were
abducted. It was at this juncture that the whole exercise took a
different dimension.
Because the boys were recruited with
cash to execute the job, they also demanded for cash to release their
victims. After the general elections some highly placed criminals
entered the scene. In order to milk money from certain politicians,
they organize a raid using the boys after which several millions were
demanded to effect the release of their victim, at the end of the day
proceeds were shared equally (50-50). Gradually, kidnapping became a
trade, a flourishing one for that matter. In Rivers state, the young,
the old, male, female, white, black, blue and red, everybody becomes a
victim. Inside churches, mosques, schools even at their homes people
are no longer safe.
Apart from the multinational oil
companies that have been leaving the city in droves, several
indigenous wealthy citizens and movers of the state economy have
virtually relocated to Abuja for fear of their safety, the safety of
members of their family and their economic well being. While the state
government was battling with the monster, other states within the
region that has been fortunate to have relative peace in their state
remained unconcerned and uncommitted. In the heat of the several
kidnapping cases in Rivers in 2008, I remembered the then Police
Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, who was in Port Harcourt for a
meeting, saying that ‘’there are no kidnappers in Akwa Ibom state.’’
How wrong is he today?
Incidentally, as the people live in
fear, pains and anguish, the boys, reports say, are living in
affluence. They compete with politicians to own the best of cars and
own the most modern buildings in town. Although there are categories
in the ranks of kidnappers. While there are senior boys who cruise in
town and mix with their school mates and who are reveling in state
fund as politicians, there are others who are hewers and fetchers of
firewood. As it is today in Rivers state and other parts of Niger
Delta region it is difficult to differentiate between those who kidnap
for money and those who kidnap for resources control agitation (that
is if the later still exist).
Like it is always said that ‘when
handshake has crossed the Niger it is no longer ordinary handshake,’
when kidnapping spread, first to Imo, and later to Anambra and
gradually permeated the whole South East, People began to shout. It
continued its ravaging journey to Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta , Ondo, Lagos
and even to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Only the core
northern states have not really witnessed the evil menace of
kidnapping. But from every indications the north may not be spared as
long as the prime target of kidnappers remains money. Even as I am
writing this piece there was a report that two kidnappers were
arrested in far away Kebbi state. Although reports say they allegedly
committed the offence in Lagos, but for the fact that they were
arrested in Kebbi means that sooner than later it may spread to the
north like wild fire.
As a result of the ravaging epidemic
(kidnapping), some people, including state governors have called for
tougher sanctions or laws that would put a stop to kidnapping.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers who have been feeling the heat more
than any other state chief executive, first advocated for death
penalty before other governors like, Sullivan Chime of Enugu State
followed suit. Already the Rivers State House of Assembly has passed
prohibition of kidnapping law of the state, making kidnapping an
offence punishable by life imprisonment. Enugu state House of Assembly
went further to making kidnapping an offence punishable by death. And
in the case of kidnapping without gun the offence attracts 10 years
imprisonment. Akwa Ibom is already working towards making kidnapping
punishable by death. And more states may follow suit.
Well, there is no gainsaying that no
recommended punishment for kidnappers is too much, due to the
traumatic experience both the victims and their loved ones go through.
This is also considering the fact that those kidnapped were usually
innocent people who were made to suffer unjustifiably. But the fact
remains that for any law against kidnapping to be effective in this
country, there is need for the governors to put their houses in order
by checking the extravagant spending of their political aides as well
as their commissioners. The way the so-called new breed politicians
waste government funds is very ridiculous and could lead the youths to
anti-social vices such as kidnapping for money. Across the states of
the federation there is anger against the politicians due to the
dubious and unnecessary show of wealth. The so-called special advisers
to the governors, Chiefs of staff, Commissioners as well as Assembly
members are just merely stealing state money and noting more. Local
Government Chairmen, Councilors are all mere contractors, displaying
ill-gotten wealth to the disenchantment of the people, who in most
cases never voted them into power.
All the governors knew how they emerged
in 2007, and the only way they feel they can consolidate for 2011 is
to appoint stooges into positions of authority, unfortunately those so
appointed do nothing other than stealing government money and parading
same all over the streets of Nigeria. Most of these kidnappers were
classmates to these emergency politicians and seeing the way they live
they must have to measure up so as not to lag behind . So the problem
does not lie on the law but on morality. Unless politicians change
their attitude to governance no amount of death penalty can stop
kidnapping and other anti-social vices in Nigeria.
Ezugwu Benson Whyte, is the Coordinator
Movement Against Second Slavery
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