TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

Lagos: Abducted school kids’ 40 days in captivity – Punch

The Citizen by The Citizen
July 4 2017
in Public Affairs
A A
0
Ambode vows to rescue abducted Lagos students  …as kidnappers demand N1bn ransom
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After the initial anxiety over the kidnap of pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, the main worry has now shifted to their safety and when they are likely to regain their freedom. It is a shame that the kids have already spent more than five weeks in captivity and no one is in a position to make an authentic statement about their wellbeing and how to reunite them with their families. Yesterday marked their 40th day in kidnappers’ den.

Parents, who had sent their children out to school to acquire knowledge so as to become useful citizens in future, are now left to rue the day they took that decision. Why should children not be safe within the confines of a state-owned boarding school? What concrete steps did the school authorities take to secure the lives of those innocent children that were entrusted to their care, especially when it has been revealed that the criminals gave sufficient notice, in writing, of their intending visit before breaking into the hostels to pick up their victims?

It is an act of criminal negligence to have allowed such bestiality to happen. If at all schoolchildren were to be kidnapped, it should not be those of the Model College, Igbonla, which had suffered a similar fate in October last year. That first strike, which saw the criminals make away with four pupils and the vice-principal, should have been enough to ensure that a sound security system was in place to protect the children. But the fact that the hoodlums had time to profile their 10 victims before making away with six, which they were sure would fetch them a king’s ransom, means that available security was short of expectations.

There is a sense in which what is happening with these children bears an uncanny resemblance to the mass kidnap of close to 300 schoolgirls in a secondary school in Chibok in Borno State. There is that same feeling of helplessness by the state to protect the lives of its most vulnerable citizens. When the girls were taken on April 14, 2014, people thought it would just be a matter of time before the might of the state would free and bring them back to complete their examinations. Unfortunately, more than three years after, about 100 girls remain in captivity.

What kind of a country would allow its youths, its future leaders, to go through this type of harrowing experience so early in their lives? Just like the case of the Chibok girls, time is ticking away; days have rapidly turned to weeks, and weeks to more than a month. Should the government be sitting pretty while non-state actors continue to have their way? A government, it is often said, exists to foster the welfare and security of the citizens. When will the Nigerian government start living up to that responsibility?

The ordeal of the school kids is merely a reflection of the extent of security breakdown in the country as a whole, and Lagos State in particular. After what initially looked like an effective, well-oiled crime-fighting machine, built and funded through the state security trust fund, security in Lagos has once again sunk to its nadir; the state is now vying for the infamous position of the uncontestable headquarters of kidnappers. A place like Ikorodu, for example, has become a den of ritual killers, where families are serially wiped out by a notorious cult group referred to as Badoo. How can a state fulfil its lofty developmental targets under such a condition?

This is an age of technology, where hitherto impossible tasks are made to look very easy. The police need a high-tech crime laboratory in fighting crime. In many countries, cutting-edge technology is helping put criminals behind bars. It will save the police wasting a lot of time doing things that are not really necessary. For instance, while sophisticated instruments are deployed in analysing the DNA samples collected at crime scenes, laser scanning is helping security agencies around the world reconstruct crime scenes. So far, security in the country has been reactive, rather than preemptive. Under an effective security system, the Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, should be able to deploy technology to stop robbers, ritual killers and kidnappers before they strike.

This can only be effectively accomplished through intelligence-led policing, which relies on information gathering, evaluation, analyses and sharing among security agents. It emphasises the need for intelligence units to process information to guide immediate and long term operations. There is always a better chance of success when intelligence is correct and rightly applied, according to a document prepared for the United States Department of Justice by the International Association of Chiefs of Police after the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001.

Besides, the police should be able to tell Nigerians when kidnapping will be brought to the barest minimum, if not stopped entirely. Why should every crime that comes into the country become acceptable on a permanent basis? One of the ways of stopping kidnapping is to stop the payment of ransom; but there has to be an effective way of tackling the criminals before coming up with that option. If the state is stalling on the payment of ransom to rescue the children, then there should be other ways of rescuing the victims from the criminals.

Beyond just arresting kidnappers and armed robbers, another way to stop the crime is to enforce the extant laws. In many parts of the country, laws have been promulgated, prescribing the death sentence for kidnappers. One of such states is Lagos. The laws have to be enforced to serve as a deterrent to criminals. The Inspector-General of Police Special Unit should be decentralised to be able to effectively cover the length and breadth of the country.

Such strategic changes will not only prevent the occurrence of abductions such as the one in Epe, but will lead to faster arrest of the culprits and freedom of the hostages.

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

Protecting farming communities with agro-rangers – The Sun

Next Post

Macron moves to slash number of French legislators

Related Posts

End female genital mutilation – Punch
Public Affairs

End female genital mutilation – Punch

October 17 2025
Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch
Public Affairs

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

October 16 2025
Vacations and governance: Why President Tinubu’s trip matters -Guardian
Public Affairs

Tinubu, honour promise to ASUU – Punch

October 15 2025
The killings in the South East – Thisday
Public Affairs

The killings in the South East – Thisday

October 14 2025
IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch
Public Affairs

IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch

October 13 2025
Don’t arm FRSC – Punch
Public Affairs

Don’t arm FRSC – Punch

October 10 2025
Next Post
Macron moves to slash number of French legislators

Macron moves to slash number of French legislators

Nigeria ranks 2nd highest on HIV/AIDS burden worldwide – NEPWAN

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Savannah Energy signs agreement with Chadian govt for new renewable energy projects

Savannah Energy announces board changes, appoints two Nigerians as Independent Non-Executive Directors

by The Editor
October 9 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Lagos to probe school over alleged sodomy

Father impregnates 15-year-old daughter in Ondo

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Court orders exhumation, autopsy of Afriland Towers fire victims

Court orders exhumation, autopsy of Afriland Towers fire victims

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

Slain husband’s dad forgives Maryam Sanda, backs Tinubu’s pardon

Slain husband’s dad forgives Maryam Sanda, backs Tinubu’s pardon

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

Trump persuades India to stop buying Russian oil

Trump persuades India to stop buying Russian oil

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga dies in India

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga dies in India

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

State of the States

21.8% North-East residents HIV positive – NBS …as 16,000 die from HIV complications in Borno

Adamawa records 8,850 new HIV infections in four years

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

...

Gov. Otti set to build modern fire station in Umuahia

Gov. Otti set to build modern fire station in Umuahia

by The Editor
October 7 2025
0

...

Senator denies bill to rename Kaduna to Zazzau State

Kaduna State pays ₦72,000 minimum wage

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt

DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt

October 18 2025
FG drives grassroot mobilisation campaign for PVC collection

FG drives grassroot mobilisation campaign for PVC collection

October 18 2025
Nigeria: IMF insists on fuel subsidy removal

Nigeria missing as IMF lists Africa’s fastest-growing economies

October 18 2025
Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

October 18 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

End female genital mutilation – Punch

End female genital mutilation – Punch

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

Vacations and governance: Why President Tinubu’s trip matters -Guardian

Tinubu, honour promise to ASUU – Punch

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

The killings in the South East – Thisday

The killings in the South East – Thisday

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch

IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

Opinion

Tinubu finds his own demons

Next time, Umahi should go to NTA

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Nigeria’s state of weakness

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.