Law on Kidnapping: Matters Arising
By Ezugwu Benson Whyte
‘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
ezugwu2008@yahoo.com
