By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed concern over the upsurge in kidnapping across country, even as the body called on the federal government to urgently re-jig its security apparatchik and develop a pro-active security strategy that will checkmate the menace.
The Guild also cautioned that if the current trend “is not brought to an end, it has capacity drive away potential investors which can negatively impact on the social and economic life of the country.”
A communiqué signed by the NGE President and General Secretary, Funke Egbemode, and Victoria Ibanga, respectively, after its fourth quarterly standing committee meeting in Yola, Adamawa state, also urged security agencies to be alive to their responsibility of providing adequate security to the citizens.
While citing the abduction of the wife of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Margaret Emefiele, former Minister, Bagudu Hirse, a senior official of the NNPC, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, some students and teachers in Lagos state, a female journalist working in Benue state, Iyuadoo Tor-Agbidye, among other abductions that had taken place, the Guild noted that kidnapping had become almost a daily occurrence.
“It is equally desirable for the government to urgently evolve anti-kidnapping measures and legislations, in order to combat the current wave of crimes and criminality in Nigeria,” the communiqué read in part.
While commending some state governments that had set up special squads with proven records of trailing, tracking and arresting kidnappers, the editors urged other states to take “a cue from these success stories.”
“The Guild also recommends the strengthening of the justice system to engender speedy prosecution of kidnap suspects to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons.
“At this present time, it will serve the government well to do the needful in arresting the rising wave of crimes and criminality, so as to ease the current pressures on the citizens and put the nation back on the path of peace.”
