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In
its ongoing effort to end kidnapping menace in the country, the Nigeria
Police Force (NPF) has arrested over 400 kidnappers and rescued many
victims from the clutches of criminals, the Force Public Relations
Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, said in Abuja, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Mr.
Ojukwu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said the Inspector-General
of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, has described the payment of ransom to
secure the release of kidnap victims as an encouragement of the vice.

The statement cited
Mr. Onovo’s displeasure with payment of ransom to the kidnappers,
saying that the IGP has warned that the police would take “serious
action against persons who encourage the vice” by ensuring such payment.

It, however, urged
that cases of abduction should be reported promptly to the police,
saying that useful information has helped the police and “the Nigeria
Police Force (NPF) has over 400 kidnappers in its custody and had
rescued many victims from the clutches of criminals,” the statement
added.

Also at its
secretariat yesterday, the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ), has maintained that it was optimistic that the four
kidnapped journalists and driver would soon regain their freedom.

“Government should, however, rise up to tackle the problem of kidnapping,” said Deji Elumoye, the council’s vice-chairman.

No freedom yet

Speaking while
receiving the delegations on solidarity visits from the state
government and the Council of Lagos State Indigenes, Mr. Elumoye said
that the national secretariat of the NUJ had temporarily relocated to
Umuahia to address the problem. He also narrated how the union’s
national president, Garba Mohammed, had received a call at 9 a.m. today
from the kidnappers and was allowed to speak with the chairman of the
state council, Wahab Oba.

“They are taking good care of us, but nothing is as good as having our freedom”, the vice chairman quoted Mr. Oba as saying.

According to the
Lagos State delegation, which was led by the commissioner for
information, Opeyemi Bamidele, “there is no reason for anyone, either
for physical gains or to heighten the tension in the country, to allow
himself or herself to be driven into doing the obnoxious crime.”

According to him,
the state government is working with the federal government and other
security agencies to ensure the safe return of the NUJ leaders.

“Kidnapping for
ransom, trying to endanger lives and property in any manner, is not
capable of providing employment or putting money into the pockets of
people”, Mr. Bamidele said.

The commissioner, on behalf of the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, expressed the state government’s solidarity with the NUJ.

The convener of the
Council of Lagos State Indigenes, Sumbo Onitiri, also expressed shock
at the incident and advised the National Assembly to hasten the passage
of the Freedom of Information (FOI) and anti-terrorism bills.

He described the
incident as a “national menace” and suggested the passage of other
bills that could improve the welfare of Nigerians.

An assistant
director (Information), Office of Lagos State deputy governor, and a
former president of the National Association of Women Journalists
(NAWOJ), Toro Oladapo, who accompanied the NUJ officials, consoled the
wives of the kidnapped men, assuring them that their husbands would
soon be released.