Encomium
The rising wave of kidnapping in the country is still a source of concern to Nigerians. So many factors like unemployment, poverty and lack of adequate security are blamed for the unending incidence of the scourge. And with ransom being paid for victims, kidnapping now seems to be a booming trade.
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke to a cross-section of Nigerians who condemn the act and proffer possible solutions to curb the rising incidence.
ODUNAYO ADEEKO
Unemployment is responsible for kidnapping. When there are no jobs to keep people busy and alive, they start thinking of immoral means to survive. Paying ransom encourages kidnapping, because when you pay them, the kidnappers are more confident, they start thinking of more people to kidnap. The government should start skill acquisition programmes and get all the youths involved, with these, they can have their own business.
JOKO OREOLUWA
Bad economy is the cause of kidnapping. Our leaders don’t care about the future of the children, not to talk of the youth. There are many undergraduates and those that are graduates already. When people are jobless they get themselves involved in immoral acts.
Nigerian leaders are only interested in their pockets. Those kidnapping do so because they are jobless and they know they will make money for themselves and those they are working for. If we have good economy, all this will not happen. I remember what those guys that kidnapped Okonjo Iweala’s mother said on NTA news. They are jobless and had been jobless for eight years.
There is no job creation in this country. Meanwhile, our leaders are pocketing trillions and billions.
OLATUNJI DANIEL
I think it’s a result of failure of governance. The youths are restless in the face of intense poverty and the government is not showing any sign of responsibility. The signs are ominous for this country.
There is nothing one can do to stop families of victims from paying ransom when the security operatives are not doing their job. The police have to up their game and do their job.
YUNUS ALIYU
There is usually rise in crime when youths are unemployed or underemployed. The rot in the society is another cause in addition to people who are naturally criminals.
Paying ransom encourages kidnappers but the alternative is if the culprits can be apprehended and we know how efficient or otherwise the police are in these matters.
We should train and retrain our police and SSS on sophisticated means of curbing crime. They also need sophisticated equipment.
INIOLUWA OYEKUNLE
The two major factors are corruption in high places and joblessness. Yes, it does. They have discovered that it’s an avenue of making huge money.
The solution is that government should provide jobs. Also, police and the telecommunication companies should work together to tackle the menace of kidnapping.
JAMES ADU
Corruption and poverty are responsible for the rise in kidnapping. Payment of ransom has influenced more youths into the criminal act.
Government should live by example. They should stop being flamboyant and tackle joblessness and poverty in the country.
OLUWASEUN ADEYEYE
Poverty, unemployment and lust for wealth and power. It does because if you keep paying ransom they will keep collecting and turn it into a lucrative business.
The government should address it because it will all fall back on them and also, because of economic meltdown in the country as a result of their negligence.
JERRY KABIRI
Greed, laziness and the society at large. In the USA, it is a known fact that the government does not negotiate with terrorists or any other body that can put the citizen in a state of danger or any form of torture. Our government needs to put out a strong statement regarding all groups that are engaged in any form of terrorism. We also need to have well trained security agents to assist in the rescue of the kidnapped victims.
We need as a nation to stop giving publicity to these hoodlums because it fuels their desire to do more. The only thing I have to say is that, the government needs to focus on what is of great importance to the nation and stop being selfish.
OLUFEMI ODEJOBI
I will say greed and the urge to be wealthy quick. Most of those involved want to be millionaires overnight. Yes, of course, the more money victims’ families pay, the more the incidents. Those who are doing it believe they will get money at the end of the day.
The government should provide jobs for graduates and keep the children away from the streets. Adequate security should also be provided.
HON. OLASEBIKAN AJAYI
Lack of adequate security, kidnappers are not ghosts, they live among the people. If there is security and enough information about them, it will reduce. It’s not justifiable to pay ransom but I don’t blame those who pay because they want their loved ones back home. I will blame the security personnel who don’t do their job effectively. Adequate security should be available everywhere.
TIJANI OBALOLA
I think everything is as a result of unemployment, which should be blamed on the government. Also, the get-rich quick syndrome among the youths is becoming worrisome. They no longer care to go to any length in anything that involves money.
Yes, the payment of ransom encourages kidnapping. But if the families of the victims don’t do that, how best do you think they can go to get their relatives released? That’s where the problem lies. But I don’t think that should be encouraged.
First, government at the centre has to be serious about security issue. Then, there must be employment that cuts across all ethnic groups. Also, there should be massive orientation on family values.
MUKAILA ADEYEMI
Nothing but joblessness and high level of moral decadence. And I think our governments at various levels should be blamed for negligence of duties.
Yes, it does but there is no other choice to save whoever is in kidnappers’ den than to pay for his or her release just like a bail is paid when you’re in police custody. But morally it’s wrong.
The only way out is that those in government should be alive to their official responsibilities, instead of fighting for their selfish interests. Also, the police and other security agents should be well encouraged and equipped to conduct dependable investigations to forestall re-occurrence of such incidents.
OYEKUNLE FEMI
Corruption and joblessness are the major causes. Yes, it obviously does, because the kidnappers are not caught and they get a huge amount of money.
Government should employ hi-tech softwares to locate them once ransom is paid.
FUNMI ADELOGUN
The government doesn’t even care about the citizens, neither have they been able to track them. They should track them down. Why would the government not be able to catch kidnappers? It’s terrible. We are not even secured in our own country.
ADEYEMI JOHNSON
I think the increasing rate of unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and anger on the side of those in power are responsible for the rise in kidnapping in Nigeria.
Paying ransom encourages kidnapping, but then who wants his family members dead? The government should provide job opportunities to reduce unemployment and poverty and make education almost free at all levels.
LANRE LONGE
I basically think poverty and unemployment are responsible for the rise of kidnapping in Nigeria. Kidnapping is a social menace and a way of punishing our leaders for their reckless spending.
Yes, I think paying ransom encourages kidnappers. The most important thing is to make jobs available for them. If these boys are gainfully employed, I doubt whether we will be hearing cases of kidnap.
FUNMI MAGBAGBEOLA
I think it is just laziness. We cannot say joblessness because a lot of people are jobless but still try to find something worthwhile to do that could fetch them income.
Yes, I think paying ransom encourages kidnapping. Ransom should no longer be paid to those thieves. I think they should pass a bill against it and sentence any culprit to death.
ESTHER ADEBISI
Get rich quick syndrome, joblessness and laziness. Why I said joblessness is because the government does not cater for these citizens. They don’t cater for their citizens’ welfare.
If there is employment, some of those youths will not go into such. Though, some are just lazy and just want to get rich quick.
Nobody wants those wicked people to kill their breadwinner, so they will definitely pay. Then government should punish offenders.
TOLU FATUNBI
The main cause of kidnapping is unemployment in the country. They say that the idle hand is the devil’s workshop. When people have no jobs, they start looking for fraudulent ways to make money.
If your loved ones is kidnapped and you have the money to pay, would you not pay the money they are asking for? You can’t risk them losing their lives. Life is more precious than money.
Like I said, the root of the problem is the high rate of unemployment. If government can address the issue of unemployment, kidnapping would reduce.
SOLA OGUNLADE
Joblessness, plain and simple. Nigeria is a very tough country to live in. Nobody to support you if you’re poor. When people are pushed to the wall, it’s when they go into all sorts of shady things like kidnapping, armed robbery and so on.
When people hear about the huge sums of money these kidnappers collect, they might feel the need to try it out. The Nigeria Police Force should be more vigilant and active in their duty. The government should also provide jobs for the youth because that’s where the problem starts.
ADAOMA KINGSLEY
Kidnapping is basically as a result of high rate of unemployment in the land. Some also go into it because they are greedy and don’t have the fear of God. My dad was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Umuahia, Abia State when it was a big business in the east.
It was only natural that they would continue to be in business if they are paid. But you can’t abandon your loved ones because of money. So, you have to pay a ransom.
KANAYO ONYEDICHI
The reasons kidnapping is now rampant include unemployment, economic hardship and loss of values. Yes, ransom encourages kidnapping because if criminals are not paid for their crime, they wouldn’t continue to torment innocent citizens.
Yes, my kid brother was kidnapped last year. And we paid for his release.
