Insecurity: Buhari Suggests Death Penalty For Kidnappers

Capital punishment for kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes has been recommended by Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North) today as parts of efforts aimed at tackling the increasing level of insecurity in the country.

Buhari spoke with newsmen today in Ibadan opined that the rate of kidnapping and killings in the country would not stop until such drastic measure is taken.

Buhari was the former Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, in the 8th National Assembly.

According to the lawmaker, “These heinous crimes against humanity have gone beyond the normal Fulani herdsmen attacks and have become a real trade for those who engage in them.

“Let me be honest with you, the situation is nationwide and very worrisome. I believe and I am afraid because Nigerians themselves are yet to take drastic measures.

“I believe by the time anyone caught in the act faces death penalty other people will learn and stop.

“Kidnappers have been arrested nothing has been done to them. I believe taking them to court is a long process,’’ he said.

He recalled that in the 80s, the drastic measure was taken to stall the increasing rate of drug peddling.

He explained that those who were in the trade had to stop once they knew that if caught, they would be made to face the firing squad.

He said “Today, going to Saudi Arabia, Bangkok, Singapore or India with drugs or to commit other forms of crime attracts death penalty and such had to an extent stemmed the trend.

“Nigerians are very stubborn people; they won’t change except there is a deterrent. These people collect cash from victims and take it to banks but the banks have not been reporting receipt of strange money accounts,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to collaborate with security agencies by providing them vital information on strange persons and movements around them.

Buhari recalled the recent abduction of a former minister’s son in Oyo State, noting that the hoodlums could not have operated without information.

“I am sure some people would have supplied information to the culprits on the movement of the former minister’s son and the location of his farm.

“Nobody will tell me that Fulani herdsmen came from the Niger Republic to abduct him without information,’’ he said.