By; JOSHUA I. EGBODO, Abuja.
The House of Representatives has called for urgent convening of a security summit over the continuous rise in cases of kidnapping around the country.
Adopting a motion moved by Hon. Babatunde Kolawole under matters of urgent public importance during plenary Wednesday, the House suggested that the summit should include all security agencies in the country, all the telecommunication service providers, the House’s committees on national intelligence, army, airforce, navy, police and communication as stakeholders with a view to fashioning out an effective response.
The House has also called for adequate budgetary provision in the 2017 budget, for the purchase of sophisticated gadgets that can help in the tracking of kidnappers.
Kolawole lamented that NYA International, a London-based intelligence gathering company had ranked Nigeria as the country with the highest kidnapping attempts in the world, with 26 percent of all recorded incidents, and followed by Mexico with 10 percent.
“Nigeria is now ranked kidnap capital of the world having risen from 475 reported cases in 2011, 500 in 2012 and presently over 1,500 cases annually”, he said, adding that the records have affected tourism and investment potentials in Nigeria, as some countries issue constant travel warnings to their citizens.
Speaking in support of the motion, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa lamented that kidnapping and hostage taking is gradually becoming an order of the day, and that it is no longer an issue against the rich and highly placed.
Also, Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Buba Jibril said it was high time something is urgently done.
