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Only stringent laws by NASS can end kidnapping —IGP

…Orders transfer of area commanders, DPOs in FCT, Kaduna, Niger

By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—INSPECTOR-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, yesterday,  attributed increasing rate of kidnapping in the country to weak laws, saying the menace could conveniently be brought to a permanent end, if the National Assembly comes up with stringent laws.

He said mere parading of suspected kidnappers by his agency without either taking them to law courts for prosecution and possibly sentencing them to death had rather boosted the morale of the kidnappers in their nefarious activities.

Police IG Idris happy with the gesture

The police boss spoke in Abuja at a monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers of the Force.

He said:  “When I went to the National Assembly, I told them that what we need to check kidnapping is punishment. I think these boys see us parade people but they don’t see them taken to court or sentenced to death.

“In some states, where kidnapping leads to death of somebody, the penalty is death but they only see the court sentencing such persons to 10 years or life imprisonment.

“I feel that is why they feel more relaxed and I told the National Assembly that we need to have more stringent punishments for kidnappers. I think that is the only way to check the menace because they see it as child’s play.

“If you go all over the command across the states, you would discover that some of these youths are getting more involved in kidnapping. Like I told the National Assembly, I believe if we can get laws to check it, we are going to see a lot of changes.

“In Niger Republic, a Boko Haram suspect was arrested and within one week, judgment was passed. That sends a very strong message that whoever that is planning to go into it should desist but here, we have suspects appearing in court and the matter continually adjourned.”

He disclosed that Inspector Idris Musa who lost his life during combat with suspected Boko Haram members in Kano State would be given post-humous award.

“We need to recommend some of our men who are doing well. Musa went to the suspect’s house, knocked at his door, the man came out, went in again and started throwing IEDs from inside. One of the IEDs exploded, affected his brain and that is what led to his death.

“He would be given posthumous promotion because he deserves it. It would serve as an encouragement and moral booster to other policemen so that they can put in their best because I am sure that Musa was a very gallant officer,” he said.

The IGP also, yesterday, ordered immediate transfer of all area commanders and Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, in Federal Capital Territory, Niger and Kaduna states, to ensure total success of newly introduced Operation Absolute Sanity to check kidnapping on highways.

He also ordered immediate redeployment of other officers, inspectors and rank and file serving in the police divisions, police stations and out posts situated on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria highways, starting from Zuba Division in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to all divisions and police stations and posts in Niger State located along the highway to Kaduna.


