Solicitor General Decries high rate of kidnapping in Taraba

Okerafor Athanatius,Jalingo

The Taraba State Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barrister Apwenyang Yamusa Shitta has expressed concern over the incessant kidnapping, armed banditry and other criminal activities which he noted claims hundreds of lives of innocent Nigerians daily with property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

Bar. Shitta, who condemned in strong terms, the spate of kidnapping and the likes, spoke during an exclusive interview with Daily Times in Jalingo, the State capital.

The Jurist, who emphazied that the Federal Government and Law Enforcement Agencies are not doing enough in enforcing the provisions of the laws to the latter said, one thing is to have a law and another thing is to enforce the provisions of such a law in practice.

“Here in Taraba State, Government is trying but the fact remains that Government’s hands are tied down because the security apparatus are in the hands of the Federal Government”, he said.

According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari should give the State Governments the necessary support to set up their own Security Agencies.

“The Federal Governments should give the State Governments the necessary support to set up their own Security outfits, such will curb incessant cases of kidnapping in some parts of the Country”, said Shitta.

He said, Police and other Security Officers from a particular location are always familiar with the terrain, nooks and crannies of their various States and Local Governments.

While advising that the Security Operatives be adequately funded so as to avoid being bias, Barr. Shitta appealed that they (Security Men) be motivated to avert their morale, zeal and enthusiasm lowered while performing their duties.

The State Solicitor Gemeral further charged the Security Agencies to maintain high level of professionalism while carrying out their assignments.

“The Security Apparatus must have to sit up in their responsibilities, they should be seen performing their duties diligently”, he added.

He also reiterated the fact that the Court of law should not be left out in the fight against kidnapping.

He viewed that once a case of Kidnapping was brought before a Court of law, the Judge should sentence accordingly, stressing that such will serve as a deterrent to others.

“Once a Kidnapper was arrested, taken to Court and released on bail, the morale of the Security who took the risk to arrest the criminal will be dampened”, he stressed.