Still On Kidnapping In Nigeria

There is no gainsaying the fact that kidnapping is now the order of the day. This is moreso as those involved in the ugly act see it as a means of making quick money.
Persons so kidnapped are being kept hostage in some dark corners of buildings tucked away in far distances until millions of Naira are paid to kidnappers for their release.
Many people blame this ugly event on the failure of governance at all levels in the country, with serious negative implications on Nigeria’s image.
The high rate of kidnapping has been linked with several factors ranging from unemployment to laziness.
In one of the numerous televised public hearings organised by the House of Representatives on how to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country, the major cause of kidnapping was attributed to  inadequate infrastructure such as good road network and electricity that would enhance productivity through job creation for the youths.
The high rate of unemployment has made many youths to have no better options other than engaging themselves in anti-social activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other economic and financial crimes.
The high rate of kidnapping in particular can be attributed to laziness of the youths. Some youths deliberately refuse jobs, preferring quick and evil money.
The problem facing Nigeria can be seen from the angle of social imbalance, especially on the line of the two classes of people. For most people, it is done to meet up the challenges of satisfying their economic needs.
Of course, the fact is sure that these people will go extra mile to commit crimes of different types.
Indeed, the high level of unemployment and restiveness has made the youth to engage themselves in uncontrollable dimensionkidnapping.
Through kidnapping can also be linked to poverty, illiteracy political factors, peer group influence amongst others, women, as stabilising forces in the family, should nuture and train their children in a proper way, since the children are the leaders of tomorrow.
Mothers from  wealthy homes are advised  to teach their children that wealth is a privilege and not a right if a mother inculcates good morals in the child, it could help curtail vices among the youth. They should also discourage their husbands from exhibiting ostentatious lifestyles to avoid being kidnapped.
Sad to note that kidnapping has unfortunately led to loss of lives, property and huge sums of money with severe implications for the country as a whole.
It will be laughable to say that Nigeria is indeed heading in the direction of its targeted goals of vision with aims to make the country become one of the 20 largest economics by the year 2020 with the way things are going. As it is, no reasonable foreign investor would like to invest where stability and security are not guaranteed.
The economic activities have long failed as most local investors prefer to invest in foreign countries other than Nigeria where their investments are safer.
It is a national emergency and we must blame our government at all levels. The governments as a whole are not putting things in order.
The people doing this, are young people. We must deal with the culture of impunity and the issue of wastage of resources from our leaders that make the young people go ahead to commit crimes and go away with it.
Government must come to grips with its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property now. Kidnapping is a huge embarrassment to the government and people of Nigeria.
For government to look helplessly while people pay ransom on a daily basis to release those in captivity is a total failure of leadership. This must stop.
Never the less, Government should provide more jobs for the people and provide security agencies with everything they need to do their job effectively in every state.
Nkemjika and Nwaogwugwu are interns with The Tide.