Reps ask FG to declare state of emergency on kidnapping

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping in the country to curb escalating kidnapping cases.

It said the police, the armed forces and telecommunications service providers should also convene a national security summit to find urgent solutions to rising kidnapping incidents.

Aside identifying the harsh economic realities of today as a factor, members observed that criminals found kidnapping to be “more lucrative these days than armed robbery.”

A member from Ondo State, Mr. Babatunde Kolawole, had raised the issue on the floor under matters of urgent public importance to set a debate in motion.

Leading the debate on his motion, titled, “Need for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping in the country”, the All Progressives Congress lawmaker stated, “In the last 10 years, the incidence of kidnapping for ransom in the country has escalated to a very disturbing level and has reached a point where no one is safe anymore.”

He said available statistics indicated that in 2013 for example, “Nigeria had the most kidnap attempts in the world, accounting for 26 per cent of all such recorded incidents, followed by Mexico with 10 per cent and Pakistan with 7per cent.”

Kolawole reeled out a list of major kidnapping incidents in the country.

Members endorsed the motion in a unanimous voice vote at the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.

Punch