The Senate on Wednesday considered a bill that seeks to
prohibit the payment and receipt of ransom for the release of any person
kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined.
According to the bill, Nigerians who pay ransom to
kidnappers and kidnappers who receive ransom risk 15 years imprisonment.
The Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which
scaled second reading during plenary is sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis
Onyewuchi.
Leading debate on the bill, the lawmaker said the piece of legislation seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.
According to Onyewuchi, the bill essentially seeks to
substitute for section 14 of the Principal Act a new section to read, “Anyone
who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or
terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been
wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is
liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”
He raised alarm that kidnapping has become a fast and
lucrative business, adding that, “it has now remained the most virulent form of
banditry in Nigeria and the most pervasive and intractable violent crime in the
country.”
Continuing, the Senator said, “Kidnapping is on the increase
in Nigeria and it is prevalent across all the geopolitical zones.
“Some blame the rise of this criminal activity on poverty,
religion, politics, deficiency of existing laws, unemployment, connivance of
security agents, corruption, and greed among others.
“Our unemployed youths are also turning out to kidnapping to
get money (ransom) as a survival strategy.
“Whatever the reason, it is most obvious that kidnapping in
Nigeria puts everyone at risk, the rich and the poor, old and young, male and
female, foreigner or indigene, expatriate or non-expatriate, traditional rulers
and religious leaders, among others.”
According to him, “The reason behind payments of ransom is
rooted on the fact that people easily identify with individual suffering.
“However, History has shown that even where ransom is proven
to have been paid, the life or safe return of a kidnap victim may not be
guaranteed.”
He emphasised that “the continuous payment of ransom must
not be encouraged, in addition government should provide adequate security and
strengthen the economy as a matter of urgency, accelerate its poverty
alleviation programs, provide employment opportunities targeting youths who are
mostly involved in abductions and kidnappings, strengthen our law enforcement
agencies, and provide the necessary support to end the menace of kidnapping”.
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