The Nigerian Senate, yesterday kick start the process of enactment of a law that prescribes capital punishment for kidnappers across the country.

The upper house made this decision based on the consideration of a report of the Joint Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence in respect of a motion on the unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage-taking in Nigeria, entitled, “A National Wake-Up Call.”

The Senate also recommended adequate funding of the Nigeria police force and other security agencies, stating that poor funding in time past have hampered the activities of security agencies in discharging their duty, adding that efforts should be put in place to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youths.

The recommendation for death penalty, as adopted by the Senate, was recommended by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi Central) as an additional recommendation after the six resolutions were already adopted by the lawmakers.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu In his contribution, noted that family members of kidnapped persons go through psychological trauma, sharing an experience of a family member.

He said: “Just recently, one of my relations also was kidnapped. So, I believe I am talking as an expert or an experienced person in kidnapping. I know the psychology of kidnappers because I stayed for two days with them.

“These are normal human beings who are sometimes looking for money and also afraid of security agencies. I think there are three types of kidnappers. There are some who kidnapped either to make a statement or to intimidate the government, like the Boko Haram people and the Niger Delta militants.

“Then there is another type of kidnappers, these are just normal armed robbers. Sometimes, they just kidnapped you, put you in the boot and they can even use the vehicle as an escape or they use it to rob.

“Such kidnappers, once they succeed, it’s either they take away the vehicle, use it or they dump their victim. But the third type, which is very dangerous, is the professional kidnappers, who kidnapped for money and that is the one we are focusing on this afternoon.

 “We have encouraged this type of kidnapping because we panic and pay money most times. This kind of kidnappers, when they abduct their victim, they put you somewhere else and they can refer you to negotiate so that they can set you free and go for another business.

“Most times, our people are reluctant to delay or endure the inconvenience or the hardship and then they quickly negotiate and if we can discourage this kind of kidnappings, the only way forward is to insist that you will not pay.”

The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom), regretted that kidnapping got to its peak in Nigeria when ex-governor and now Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, was kidnapped.

Senator Ibrahim noted that unhealthy rivalry among the security agencies, leading to lack of required synergy and information sharing on time has also hampered the progress made by security agencies as well as lack of sophisticated equipment by security agencies.