Police IG, Arase, Others Summoned by Senate Over Kidnapping

The Senate on Thursday invited the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over the increasing cases of kidnapping and hostage taking in the country.

The upper chamber specifically invited the IGP to brief it on plans by police to finding lasting solution to the kidnapping and hostage taking in parts of the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion on “The unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage taking in Nigeria- a national wake up call.”

Apart from inviting Arase, the Senate condemned kidnapping in its entirety and commiserated with families of those who have lost their loved ones to kidnappers.

The lawmakers urged traditional institutions, religious authorities and all Nigerians to be more vigilant and to participate more actively in the security of the country.

It resolved to make frantic efforts at reviewing the extant laws on kidnapping with a view to imposing stiffer penalties on the crime.

The Senate also resolved to invite the Ministers of Labour and and Productivity and National Planning, National Directorate of Employment and other relevant government agencies to brief it on deliberate and actionable plan of government in reducing the current employment deficit in the country.

The motion by Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) was unanimously supported by Senators.

Uba in his lead debate noted ‘with displeasure” the seeming prevalence of kidnapping in the country.