The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is advocating for the imposition of death sentence on convicted kidnappers.
The IGP, speaking at a dialogue session he held with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the umbrella of Situation Room, in Abuja on Friday, said the case of recently apprehended kidnap kingpin, Chukwudidumeme Onuamadike, a.k.a Evans, should be used to set an example.
Idris lamented that Evans “has changed the face of kidnapping in this country”, saying the fact that he collected $1million ransom on six different occasions, was enough to lure some youths into the evil act.
The police boss stated that the existing laws on kidnapping needed to be reviewed to ensure stiffer punishment for culprits.
“We should start looking at punishment and the possibility of establishing special courts to address issues of kidnapping.
“On daily basis we are arresting hundreds of suspects. We should look for a way to review our laws and impose sanctions like we have in some states like Anambra, Lagos, Kano and Imo.
“We need to review those punishments, we should have a time frame for conclusion of trial of suspects.
“Some of these local people don’t really understand, they see people being paraded on TV after arrest and think that is just where it ended.
“Kidnapping obviously have become a very major challenge for us in this country. However, I am happy to state that in virtually over 80 percent of cases reported to the police, the suspects were arrested.
“Imagine the case at hand, talking about Evans. He told his boys not to have landed property in either Anambra or Imo because he was aware the houses will be demolished and the boys ostracised if caught.
“He refused to own any property in his place. You know, in that part of the country, even in churches, relatives of kidnap suspects are avoided and treated as outcasts by people.
“That was why he refused to invest in his own state and preferred to build houses in Ghana and other places. This was because he knew his Investments would be lost. So the issue of punishment is very important.
“Evans has undoubtedly changed the face of kidnapping in this country, if you see his magnification mansions in Ghana.
“You can see why our youths have taken this way to easy life. That is why we have to up the risk. If you engage in kidnapping the punishment should be death or life imprisonment. This will serve as deterrent to youths that may wish to engage in the crime.”
