The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has called for more tougher laws to address the increasing rate of kidnapping in the country.
Idris said this in Abuja during the monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.
According to him: “When I went to the National Assembly, I told them that what we need to challenge 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 punishment for kidnappers. I think that is the only way to check the menace because they see it as a child’s play.
Idris added: “If you go all over the commands 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 year-in-year-out appearing in court and matter continually adjourned.
“It does not serve as a deterrent to them and even most of them kept in Police cells are more comfortable there. So, I think to address the level of kidnapping in the country, a law should be passed.”
