Mark seeks stringent measures against kidnappers

    
Senate President David Mark, on Sunday, renewed his call for draconian measures against kidnappers and insisted that the perpetrators do not deserve to live among normal human beings.

Mark therefore advocated an instant judgment for the perpetrators of the wicked act using the law of ‘an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth’, adding that, “if that is the only way to stop kidnapping, we can as well apply it here.”

The Senate President, according to a statement in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, stated this at the funeral mass at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Abagana in Anambra state for late Chief James Emeka Iloenyosi who died in the hands of kidnappers.

Mark added, ” the unabating cases of kidnapping is a big shame. If stringent measure is not adopted the perpetrators would not stop.

“It is a big challenge to all of us. Government is there to take responsibilities, but the community cannot absolve herself of basic responsibilities. These kidnappers live among us. It is therefore incumbent on community leaders to fish them out .Today, it is Chief Iloenyosi , who knows the next victim tomorrow .

“If a traditional ruler like Chief Iloenyosi is kidnapped and died in the hands of his abductors, then who is safe in this community. That is why everybody must vow to say enough is enough and no more to kidnapping in Anambra state.”

Anambra, Edo and Delta state governments have already sanctioned the law prescribing death penalty for kidnappers including destruction of their homes forthwith.

The Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi pledged that his government would flush out kidnappers from the state.

To achieve this, he pleaded with the people especially community leaders to support and cooperate with government.

Responding on behalf of the family, daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Ogugua Agagbo, told the bewildered congregation that the family was planning for the Chief’s 80th birthday which turned out to be the burial on account of his death in the hands of kidnappers.

Agagbo said the family had been traumatised but had equally taken the incident in good faith saying ” we are consoled that our father lived a life of service to the community which everybody attested to. ”

Earlier in his homily, Rev. Fr. Michael Anozie preached a message of forgiveness even as he implored perpetrators of all sorts of crime to turn a new leaf in order to avoid the consequences of their misdemeanor .

Meanwhile, Mark had asked all Nigerians to be combat ready against terrorists ravaging the North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

He stated this while reacting to the latest attacks on Michika in Adamawa state and Maiduguri , Borno state at the weekend.

The Senate President noted that the dimension of the renewed attacks have gone beyond human comprehension but “with cooperation and support of the citizenry, we can savage the situation .”