nsecurity: Clergy tells FG to criminalize ransome payment for kidnapping

The Federal Government has been charged to criminalize ransome payment for kidnapping cases to checkmate the increase in the cases of kidnapping in the country.
Speaking during a media briefing to commemorate the Easter celebration and the Church’s Friends Day, on Sunday, Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Sango Ota, Ogun State, Bishop Taiwo Akinola said to bring an end to rising cases of insecurity in the country, President Muhammad Buhari’s led Government must been seen matching words with action to show sincerity in dealing with cases of insecurity in the country.
“If I can recall, for almost a decade, there has never been a time at our briefing that we do not express our burden about the problem of insecurity in our land. From militancy, to Boko Haram, to kidnapping and now Fulani Herdsmen. 
“The problem of insecurity has continued to be a big challenge and hardly does a day pass without reports of insurgence in one area of the country or the other,” he said.
He condemned payment of ransome which he alluded to the reason why crime rate have been on the increase, adding that though President Buhari has openly spoken against it, but no action actually followed.
Akinola said the impression in the country is that government is so helpless that they sit at tables negotiating with kidnappers and bandits. 
He said, “While this evil occurrences have attracted diverse global responses, I believe that Government at various levels need to take decisive actions to let the whole world know that they are in charge. Safety and security of lives and property should be a top priority of Government.
“We believe that the solution to this cankerous problem is for government both at federal and states level to ruthlessly deal with the kidnappers and stop paying ransoms. Legislation should be made that no ransom must be paid to kidnappers anymore. It should be a criminal offence to pay ransoms so that kidnapping can become less lucrative.”
He stated that the bandits have continued their reign of terror on the innocent citizens just because of the money they get out of it, noting that they see it as a lucrative venture. 
“But if they are being subjected to series of punishment and public disgrace, it would serve as deterrent to others and if this continues, in the space of two months, kidnapping will go down drastically,” he opined.
The Bishop said the importance of Easter is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, which means there is still hope for Nigeria in spite of whatever challenges the country is passing through now.
“As part of our solution, we call for national repentance and prayers for the country, we should all rise and pray for our country and that is what we would be doing at our special Mini Convention on May 8 at our City of Zion, on Wasimi, Ogun State,” he said.