By Esilonu C Esi;onu & Njoku SaintJerry A.

If Senator Onyewuchi should be made to understand anything it is the consequences of security failure which members of the political elites including himself had caused to overgrown over the years

A bill seeking to prohibit “ransom” by victims of kidnappers is due to be established.

The Nigerian senate recommends 15 years jail term for those who pay ransom to kidnapers if this bill is finally adopted
Onyewuchi Francis Ezenwa senator representing Imo east senatorial district had proposed a bill that prohibits innocent victims under hostage from paying ransom even at the point of death

However, Nigerians and social media pundits led by Esilonu C. Esilonu put up a poser to the senator to explain reason why innocent victims of the failed state security should be subjected to such obnoxious laws of indifference to the worsening plight of the citizenry when it is obvious individuals under such painful circumstance took such decisions when the state and men in his capacity has continued to show every evidence of lack to protect the citizenry from any form of dangers

A bill seeking to punish victims of kidnappers but exonerates the failure of government to protect lives and properties or even fish out the kidnapers for prosecution should not be considered a serious work of a law-making body.

Sometimes the Nigeria political elites continue to play the ostrich even when it’s obvious they are not immune from the lawlessness they have contributed in the society. Perhaps they really believe they will remain untouchable, however recent security development both in Imo state and the entire South East has shown that unless the men appointed to the duty of securing lives and properties, enact and implement laws that will deal decisively with such societal menace as kidnapping for ransom, terrorism and its antecedents their indifference will soon catch up with all of them.
It is obvious Senator Onyewuchi has not had any member of his family or near kin held hostage by terrorist kidnappers neither has he or any member of his family been a victim of torture in the hands of kidnappers otherwise he won’t have the balls to discuss criminalizing an option of ransom for life or no ransom

Neither the victims of kidnappers nor their family members enjoy the harrowing experience of torture and opting to pay for ransom in the midst of all that pains – If Onyewuchi should be made to understand anything it is the consequences of security failure which members of the political elites including himself had caused to overgrown over the years

More so, how does such a bill that punish the same victim and ignores those responsible for the victim’s security discourage kidnapping. The role of any government starts and ends with the protection of lives and properties of her citizens.
Is the senator aware that those that refuse to pay ransom are killed?
So when a state government pays ransom to release their kidnapped workers or appointees, as they often do, who then goes to jail?

It’s clear senator Onyewuchi neither understands the concept nor complexities of what he’s dealing with. This is the kind of bill a law maker whose constituency is suffering daily gun attacks and blood letting, can propose.

If Onyewuchi meant well in his proposal and not merely creating a media sensation in his comfort, he and his colleagues should have proposed a bill that will make the government to bear the liability of failing to protect victims who ought to have been protected in the first place. Doing that will put the security authorities on their toes to combat insecurity and kidnapping and not subjecting victims to suffer the menace of insecurity caused by the government and its carelessness then turn around to jail the same victims of a weak and careless government voted into power to protect citizenry?