The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Owo branch, Ondo State has stated that for the spate of kidnappings in the country to be abated, governors should use their security votes to pay for the ransome of kidnap victims.
The NBA Chairman, Owo branch, Barr. Tajudeen Ahmed, who stated this on Monday during a press conference to herald the maiden edition of the branch’s 2019 Law Week commemoration, emphasized that through this, the governors as Chief Security Officers of their states will be put on their toes towards safeguarding their citizens.
“Security votes of governors should be used to pay ransom to kidnappers. The essence of security votes is to secure the people, but when they are kidnap, it should be used to secure the release of kidnap victims.
“A situation where a poor salary earner is kidnap, where do you want such to get fund for payment of ransom. So, if governors used their security votes to pay ransom, we believe that they will be more alive to their responsibility,” he said.
While frowning at the continued killings and kidnappings, the Owo NBA chairman attributed the menace to corruption which he said has eaten deep into the fabric of the society.
According to him, inadequate security measures as well as unmotorable roads in most part of the country, which have been left unattended to, are part of the issues aiding banditry and kidnappings.
“The issue of corruption has aided kidnappings across the country. This has to do with bad and unrepair roads. There was a time we took a position on it and it was stemmed down. It led to the reduction of the crime between Akure-Owo highway as well as the rehabilitation of Owo-Ikare road.
“Our verdict on war against the corruption is that it must be total and thorough. It must not be selective. When the governors went to Ibadan for security summit on ways to tackle the invasion of bandits, Fulani herdsmen, our position was that the move was not the solution. The solution lies in putting an end to corruption. All our roads are impassable. That is why the roads are accommodating criminals,” Ahmed said.
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