Kidnaping: We Are Not Getting The Best from You, Senate Tells Security Agencies

• Senate resolved to come up with a law that would establish a Special Anti- Kidnapping Act.
• Melaye calls the attention of his colleague to cases of kidnapping and killings along Abuja-Lokoja road.

The Senate has expressed its displeasure over continued cases of kidnapping in the country, with lives lost and property largely destroyed.

The Upper Chamber on Wednesday took a swipe at the present security architecture in the country, saying that Nigeria was not getting the best from them.

The house subsequently resolved to come up with a law that would establish a Special Anti- Kidnapping Act that would help nip in the bud, cases of Kidnapping in the Country.

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The lawmaker representing Edo South district, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, made the call during the consideration of a point of Order by the Kogi West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.

Melaye who came through order 42 and 52, said that the parliament noted with very serious attention that the Lokoja-Abuja expressway is the gateway to about nine states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the only road join the Southern and Northern part of this country.

Melaye, therefore, said something very serious must be done to address the cases of Kidnapping on Lokoja- Abuja road, where many people have been killed.

Resolution

The Senate also urged the security agencies to adequately secure the major road and all other highways across the country, just as it has called for adequate budgetary allocation to the security agencies but must be fully accounted for.

The Senate also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Adamu to intensify efforts in protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians. It also called for the implementation of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Security report in the 8th Senate.

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In his remark, Senate President Ahmad Lawan agreed completely that there is a need for something different to be done in facing the challenges.

“We need to go back to the report on the ad-hoc committee on the security infrastructure. We could go by way of a public hearing to review security infrastructure.

”The way they are, we are not getting the best out of them. The committee of communications should meet with the Ministry of Communications to know more about the lines they are blocking. We need to be radical. We need to give them more funds. It is not enough to give them money, we must see how they utilise the money.

“We will also insist that uniform people must not join the train because they are the ones supposed to protect us on the highways. The military, police and all these paramilitary agencies should allow ordinary people to use the train. Let them ply the roads because they will clear the road for other road users to go on the road.“