Osinbajo Demands Prosecution Of Arrested Bandits, Kidnappers

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has demanded the prosecution of arrested bandits and kidnappers to serve as a deterrent to others.

He made this known on Tuesday in Ikenne, Ogun State, where he participated in the ongoing APC membership and revalidation exercise.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, the vice-president noted the prosecution of the arrested criminals will serve as evidence of justice delivery in the country.

He also called for the establishment and strengthening of the State Police structure which he said would help to improve security nationwide.

Osinbajo also demanded a stronger collaboration between the security agencies and Justice ministries to solve insecurity challenges in the country.

He said: “We must speed up and strengthen the community policing structures, states must continually train, educate and formalise their local security structures so that they complement the Federal law enforcement agencies. Policing must be a collective effort, from the Local Government to the State Government, and all the way up to the Federal Government.

“We must ensure the prosecution of all those who have been arrested for kidnapping, banditry. There must be evidence that justice is being done. This is achievable by stronger collaboration between the police, States Ministries of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

“We are in government at one of the most challenging times in history. The pandemic has not helped matters, and we also have had security challenges that have stretched our law enforcement capacities all over the country. But we remain the best party to solve these problems.”

The vice president also harped in the need to resolve community problems as a country as it was ultimately better for Nigeria to remain as one.

He said despite the security challenges, the values of justice, equity and fairness across communities nationwide can be addressed.

Osinbajo, therefore, urged Nigerians to “resist any attempts to destroy the unity of this country, adding that, “Our people have lived and worked together for decades.”

“We must resist any attempt to destroy the unity of this country. Our people have lived and worked together for decades, even centuries. While we must attend to the cries of communities, and the cries of our people for justice, equity and fairness, we can do so within this same union. Ultimately we are stronger together than apart,” he said.