What is responsible for the spate of kidnapping in the country?
Why is this crime the most sought after by criminals?
Is it because it is lucrative?
Are some security agents conniving with these kidnappers to ensure that they go scot free after collecting ransom from family members of victims?
These are some of the questions begging for answers in the country as the spate of kidnapping goes haywire.
From the North to South, East to West, it is the same story. Nobody is safe anymore.
Even doctors and nurses have become latest victims of these abductors.
Hitherto, the motive behind kidnapping was to use victims for money rituals. That has changed today as victims are used as bait to collect ransom.
Despite the fact that it is a very dangerous game, kidnappers are ready to face the risk because if they are successful, they go home with millions of naira in cash.
According to international reports, Nigeria is listed as the fifth among the countries that have experienced high kidnapping in that year.
Statistics also show that 74 per cent of kidnappings recorded in Africa occur in Nigeria.
In fact, Nigeria is seen as among the top ten countries with high kidnappings globally
Kidnapping is a global problem but that of Nigeria is now turning into a routine.
nds of the kidnappers.
After collecting money, some victims still die in kidnappers’ den. Some are brutally killed.
Recently, a Catholic priest in Benue State was abducted and killed.
So, what is the way out of this deadly virus?
On 27th April, 2004, community policing was founded on the principle that in a democratic society, the police are entrusted by their fellow citizens to protect and serve the public fundamental rights, liberty, equality and justice under the law.
To fulfil the role, the police is expected to be part of the communities they serve.
The motive is that any police organisation that seeks to serve
democratic and humanitarian ideals must be, and be seen to be transparent, fair, apolitical, accountable and responsive to public
perceptions and expectations.
But some Nigerians are of the opinion that this is not enough. That local policing is the way out.
Consequently, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) was established with over five million officers and men in the six geo- political zones of the country in 2008 during the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Yar’adua, at the inauguration, said the establishment of VGN was in line with the recommendations of the
United Nations (UN) on community, public security and safety, adding that the police is trying its best in a very harsh and hostile environment, yet effective security of the country needs the collaboration of groups like the VGN.
He said many Nigerians are ignorant of basic security issues and that the VGN, with the support of the federal and state governments, will provide adequate security training for decent people in the country in the bid to ensure community participation in the entire business of security in the country.
The idea of the VGN was sold to the Federal Government in 1999 during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo but the idea did not take firm root until the coming of Yar’Adua.
Today, many states have adopted the VGN as part of the operating security mechanism in their domains.
VGN is expected to work with the police and the
Directorate of State Security (DSS) to ensure security, especially in rural areas.
This idea was borrowed from the ancient culture of many
ancestral communities in Nigeria when hunters and villagers from such settings were directly involved in local security.
Unfortunately, since the death of the former president, succeeding administrations seem to have put the concept and implementation of the VGN in the dustbin of history.
What is more, there has been drastic decline in public confidence and citizens’ withdrawal of their voluntary support and cooperation to the police.
The reason for this is due to lack of public satisfaction, trust and instilled confidence.
Consequently, crime and criminal activities continue unabated.
Many notable Nigerians have expressed dismay at the inability of the Police to fight crime to a standstill, a situation which has earned the country a bad image in the comity of nations.
However, the VGN in the Oyo State with about 11,000 officers and men, has instilled confidence in the people, through demonstrable commitment at all times to deliver the best possible services.
Their activities are felt across the state, especially in Oke-Ogun areas, as residents are now relieved from the onslaught of daredevil armed robbers and can sleep with their eyes closed.
Several motorists plying the area had fallen to the robbers’ bullets, while others sustained various degrees of injuries, when plying the roads in the area.
The VGN has equally begun a clampdown on blacksmith operators who secretly manufacture locally-made guns for criminally-minded people, to unleash terror in the areas.
Hunting, farming and blacksmithing are major occupations of the people.
Security sources hinted that most of these locally-made guns are being sold to foreigners from neigbouring country, the Benin Republic.
Iwere-Ile, Idiko-Ago, Agbororo, Onikeun and Wasimi all in Oke-Ogun areas, are border communities to Benin Republic.
Obviously, Nigerian borders are porous, so, there are several illegal routes as alternatives for smugglers and other criminals to enter into and out of the country.
These concerted efforts by the VGN have brought respite to the residents, community leaders and traditional rulers who expressed satisfaction and were full of praises for prompt service delivery.
The commendation was reinforced recently when the state chapter of the VGN held its zonal meeting in Oyo town.
The colourful meeting was attended by men of the Divisional police, DSS, Defence Corps, Operation Burst and the Immigration Service.
Others were Hausa/Fulani community, representative of the community’s monarch and various associations,
In his message, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, who is one of the National patrons of VGN, lamented over increasing rate of criminal propensity in the country, and stressed the urgent need for effective community policing which does not replace any regular styles and methods of normal police duties, but harness the principal
policing which remain essential and are entirely compatible and complementary.
Oba Adeyemi, who is also the Permanent Chairman, State Council of Obas and Chiefs, pointed out that, “The people are overwhelmed with the activities of VGN because they have been contributing towards the creation or reinforcement of trust in communities, strengthening the security of persons and property and the feeling of security of persons, as well as stave off frequent discords which exist between
the police and members of the public due to lack of confidence.”
“Your efficiency, thoroughness, courtesy, tact, tamper, tolerance, as well as impartiality deserves commendation. The service you are rendering is a voluntary one. You are not equipped with operational vehicles, let alone arms and ammunition. You don’t even receive any salary. Yet, your performance is delightful and pleasant to the people. We held general elections and you proved yourselves by not compromising patriotism and diligence for gratification. You
did not allow electoral malpractices, but provided adequate
security to the electorate. The people are grateful to you. Your patriotic zeal and commitment to nation-building is highly appreciated and admired by the people.”
Oba Adeyemi noted that significant benchmarks of performance by the police are public satisfaction, trust and confidence, adding that “a situation whereby police activities are retroactive and fail to recognise that the power to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behaviours, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect, nothing meaningful can be achieved.”
In his welcome address, State Commandant of the VGN, Mr. Sunday Olajide, noted that despite the large number of his officers and men which is about 30,000, services being rendered are voluntary, as they neither receive salaries nor remunerations presently.
“Our commitment to national peace and security remains unparalleled. A recent case in point was the rescue of wife of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly by VGN men from the den of kidnappers”, Olajide said.
