By Yemi Adeleye
Lagos — Lawmakers representing Epe Constituencies in the Lagos Assembly on Friday appealed to security agencies to collaborate and stem kidnapping.
The lawmakers made the appeal in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
They spoke against the backdrop of the abduction of seven people – two guards and five farmers – at Igbodu area of Epe on Tuesday by gunmen clad in military camouflage.
The incident occurred barely two weeks after some kidnappers invaded the same community and abducted four persons.
Mr Segun Olulade (Epe Constituency II), where the latest kidnapping occurred, and Abiodun Tobun (Epe Constituency I) called on the police, army and navy to rescue the victims.
The duo urged security agencies to intensify watch on riverine areas and border towns.
Olulade said: “Now that we have a law against kidnapping in Lagos, I call on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to quickly arrest and prosecute these culprits.
“We must enforce our law against kidnapping to serve as a deterrent to kidnappers.
“Security agencies must wake up to their responsibilities to protect lives and property of Lagos residents, especially those in Epe.
“Kidnapping is of great concern to us. It is foreign to our people. We are really in trying times.”
The lawmaker urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to allow state police, saying that it would help to address security challenges.
The legislator gave the assurance that, when fully in operation, the state Neighbourhood Corps would tackle many security challenges.
Olulade called on Lagos residents, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to support security agencies by providing useful information to them.
Commenting, Tobun described the spate of kidnapping in the state especially in Epe as unfortunate.
“How can a human being incarcerate a fellow human being with a view of collecting money? It is criminal, unacceptable and totally condemnable.
“We all need to live up to our responsibilities as security agents, traditional rulers and residents. These criminal are not ghosts; they live among us.
“Police should do more; they have gun boats to monitor waterways, helicopters to monitor the area and others for surveillance.”
Tobun, Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, advised Lagos residents to feel free to provide useful information to security agencies.
NAN reports that the Assembly, on Jan. 5, passed the state Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, 2016, which was assented to by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on Feb. 1.
The bill provided for death sentence for kidnappers whose victims die in their custody, and life imprisonment for the act of kidnapping.
