Death Sentences for Kidnappers, long jail terms for others, will curb Menace-IGP; as Fafowora gets double promotion 14 years after.

The Inspector General of, IGP Ibrahim Idris has blamed lack of prosecution, leading to death sentences or long term jailing of Kidnappers as reason why kidnapping is on the increase.

Addressing DIGs, AIGs and Police Commissioners from the 36 states and Abuja on Wednesday, the IG said weak laws, and the fact that Nigerians don’t see arrested kidnappers being punished deservedly was hampering the battle to bring the menace to an end.

“In Niger recently, a Boko Haram abductor was arrested and tried by the country’s laws and sentenced. Within one week, he was dealt with. That action has sent a strong message to would be kidnappers that they are not welcomed there.

“Kidnappers who kill their victims be given similar punishment while others should get jail terms commensurate with the offense. If the National Assembly comes up with stringent laws and they are implemented, this menace would stop.

The IGP insisted that mere parading of suspected kidnappers by his agency without either taking them to law courts for prosecution and possibly sentencing the culprits to death had rather boosted the morale of the kidnappers in their nefarious activities.

“When I went to the National Assembly, I told them that what we need to check kidnapping is punishment. I think these boys see us parade people but they don’t see them taken to court or sentenced to death.

“In some states, where kidnapping leads to death of somebody, the penalty is death but they only see the court sentencing such persons to 10 years or life imprisonment.

“I feel that is why they feel more relaxed and I told the National Assembly that we need to have more stringent punishments for kidnappers. I think that is the only way to check the menace because they see it as child’s play.

 “If you go all over the command across the states, you would discover that some of these youths are getting more involved in kidnapping. Like I told the National Assembly, I believe if we can get laws to check it, we are going to see a lot of changes.

 “In Niger Republic, a Boko Haram suspect was arrested and within one week, judgment was passed and he was dealt with. That sends a very strong message that whoever that is planning to go into it should desist but here, we have suspects appearing in court and the matter continually adjourned.”

 The IG stated that Inspector Idris Musa who lost his life during combat with suspected Boko Haram members in Kano State last week would be given post-humous promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

 “We need to recommend some of our men who are doing well. Musa went to the suspect’s house, knocked at his door; the man came out, went in again and started throwing IEDs from inside. One of the IEDs exploded, affected his brain and that is what led to his death.

 “He would be given posthumous promotion because he deserves it. It would serve as an encouragement and morale booster to other policemen so that they can put in their best because I am sure that Musa was a very gallant officer,” he said.

 On the continued use of Mobile Police Officers by politicians and other prominent Nigerians, which has been banned by the force, the IGP said a task force would be inaugurated to work with the X-Squad and carry out raids to fish out such policemen because it is a case of illegal deployments citing the case of 10 police personnel who were arrested in Oshogbo on illegal duty whereas the state of deployment was Delta state.  

 Meanwhile, a Superintendent of Police, SP Bolaji Fafowora, who because of alleged disciplinary offences was denied promotion for 14 years, was on Wednesday decorated with the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.

According to IGP Idris, the double promotion came about because the allegations against the officer were later proven to be false.

Some course-mates of the officer had gotten to the rank of deputy Inspector General of Police while many others are currently Assistant Inspectors general of Police.

 END