Apprehended Kidnappers, How Should They Be Treated?
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
It is no longer news that security challenges tops the numerous challenges that Nigeria is faced with today. It is also very evident that our men and women officers of the law have done everything they could to tackle this menace, but they constantly appear to be overwhelmed by this monstrous challenge.
Overtime, it appears the Nigerian government authorities are not interested in tackling this problem headlong, as it has been reported that some state governments pay the kidnappers to secure the release of citizens, while paying lip service to curtailing the criminals.
In Edo state recently, by divine intervention, some kidnappers that kidnapped two medical doctors and eventually killed one of them, and released the second doctor, after a ransom of 50 million naira was said to have been paid, were arrested. The crime happened around Auchi axis in Edo North. The two apprehended kidnappers were reportedly taken to Benin. Perhaps they were locked up in the custody of Edo state Criminal Investigation Department, CID, detention facility. However, since then, nothing has been heard, even after close to one month.
If I may ask: is or are there any record/s of the prosecution of kidnappers that were caught in the act? After handing them over to the Police, what next? Many has insinuated or alleged that they are often released after some time when the public appears to have forgotten about the matter. Really? No wonder they get bolder and more daring each time they operate.
In view of the above, does anyone know what has become of those two arrested kidnappers that killed the medical doctor in Edo North? Those kidnappers that collected a whooping fifty million naira before releasing the second doctor. What confessional statement have they made? Who did they name as their sponsors? Are there others at large, what effort/s are the law enforcers making with respect to the case? The public, especially those that have suffered untold excruciating pains as a result of the activities of these daring and heartless criminals, want to know the developments. It is better for the law enforcement agencies, especially the Edo state Police Force to always give a monthly briefing on developments with regard to very sensitive cases like these ones, as it will go a long way in clarifying issues and maintaining public trust and confidence in our law enforcers.
What about those that were apprehended in Ewu axis of Esan central local government area? we need not be reminded that if these guys are released and they get back into our society, they will be more vicious, more daring than they were before they were arrested, thereby making our society unsafe for the law abiding and peaceful citizens; even the law enforcers will not be left out in the menace.
So, in view of the above, how should apprehended kidnappers be treated?