FG reacts to kidnapping students, lecturer in Edo state
- The Nigerian government has reacted to the rise of kidnapping cases in Nigeria.
- The national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, explains why kidnappers should face punitive measures
- Monguno said the Nigerian security forces are capable of securing the country
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The Nigerian government has reacted to the kidnap of two students and a lecturer from the Institute of construction technology, Uromi, in Edo state.
The national security adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, said the government has mandated the police and other security agents to go after these kidnappers.
Source: UGC
He made the statement on Thursday, March 11, during a briefing with journalists at the presidential villa in Abuja.
According to a video posted by the presidency, Monguno said the security officials have also been directed to enforce adequate punishment to arrested kidnappers to deter others.
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The security adviser pointed out that the Buhari administration has made huge spending to secure the country and will continue to do so.
He also restated that the federal government won't negotiate with bandits.
According to him, the bandits do not have any legitimate reason for carrying out their attacks on local communities in the north-west and north-central regions of the country.
Monguno said the government won't be cowed into negotiations with the bandits especially as their grouses are not legitimate.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has opened up on how he effectively engages bandits in the north in the search for a middle ground between them and state governments.
The famous Islamic scholar said he and his team approach the criminals as clergymen not as an authority because this will make them more relaxed and confess their crimes, Punch reported.
Gumi said he does this from an understanding of the fact that the bandits are loyal to religious and spiritual influences, adding that if approached by security forces, the criminals will become defensive and hide a lot of information during interrogation.
Still on security, a human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has raised concerns over the insecurity challenges in the country.
Sani in a tweet on Wednesday, March 10, suggested that bandits accused of raiding communities come out to do biometric verification and return without being traced.
Kess Ewubare is a senior political/current affairs correspondent at Legit.ng. He has both a BSc and a Master’s degree in mass communication. He has over 10 years of experience in working in several fields of mass communication including radio, TV, newspaper, and online. For Kess, journalism is more than a career, it is a beautiful way of life.
Source: Legit.ng
