by Wareez Odunayo

The rate at which kidnappings occur in Nigeria is alarming. Hardly does a day pass without the sad news of persons kidnapped in gruesome circumstances. Today, students and children are been kidnapped on daily basis.

Many Nigerians are becoming victims of kidnappers, who forcibly abduct people for ransom and for money rituals. Despite condemnations against this heinous crime from different quarters, it has continued to grow in bounds. The frightening aspect of it is that shady individuals now exploit it as the quickest and simplest way of making money.

Recently six students of Igbonla Model College, Epe, Lagos state were kidnapped on May 25, 2017, before they were rescued from Aboto creek in Ondo State on July 28, 2017.

On August 10, 2017, a suspected kidnappers’ den was uncovered around a drainage channel at Ile Zik bus stop, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway where decomposed human intestines, a kidney, as well as cutlass, pairs of slippers, underwear, clothes, condoms, among others were said to be discovered in some black spots linking the drains.

This came barely 48 hours after a similar den was uncovered at Obadeyi bus stop along the same expressway.

While the Federal government is waging war against terrorists in the Northeast, kidnapping and killings for rituals have become another terrifying act to wrestle with.

Is this barbaric act as a result of the economic downturn which has led to millions of ordinary citizens, especially youths, without jobs and any meaningful means of livelihood? Or is it just sheer greed and the wickedness of man?

The authorities did an excellent job when it arrested, Evans, the kingpin of kidnappers in the country, but more needs to be done to stem the tide.

The police and other security agencies should send a powerful signal to the perpetrators of such odious crime.

The government also has to wake up to its responsibility of safe guarding the lives and property of it citizens because no responsible government should fold its arms and do nothing.

It’s better the authorities nip this in the bud before citizens are pushed to take laws into their hands, the way they did in Ikorodu over the Badoo cult killings.

Editor