How Anambra state is fighting kidnapping

Posted by Felix Okoli on Monday July 14, 2014 at 11:54:2:

The vice of kidnapping is still very much prevalent in Nigeria especially in the south eastern part of the country. In Anambra state, there are still regular incidents of kidnapping and in some worst cases, the victims of kidnap are killed after the kidnappers have collected their ransom.

The state government has been fighting to bring an end to the growing vice. In this article, I will mention a few methods used by the government of Anambra to fight the issue of kidnapping in the state.

1. Placing Death Penalty On Kidnappers: some time back, the former governor of Anambra state, Governor Peter Obi placed a death ultimatum on any kidnapper that is caught in the act, and the death sentence meant that kidnappers are to be killed instantly even following due process stipulated by law, that is sentencing the accused to court and giving him a chance to defend himself. With the law in place, most kidnappers were discouraged from indulging in the act, only die hard ones still continued in the crime.

2. Destroying buildings and confiscating land used by kidnappers: Anambra's anti-kidnapping law now makes it legal to destroy the buildings or homes used by kidnappers to imprison their victims. This is now the norm irrespective of whether the landlord or home owner is aware of the activities of the kidnappers or not and that's why house owners in Anambra state are now urged to know the kinds of people they admit as tenants or leave as caretakers in their homes.

3. Encouraging the police to bring the criminals To Book: the state government of Anambra state have been working hand in hand with armed officials like the Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) , Military and Police force to make sure that the criminals that commit the act are caught and brought to book. There have been many successful raids on kidnapper’s hideouts in recent times.