Society and kidnap menace

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A kidnap occurs when one or a group of people are unlawfully captured or taken away against their will usually for ransom.

Kidnapping is an unpleasant act that goes with a form of illegal imprisonment of someone for unclear and shady deal. Kidnapping and  illegal imprisonment cannot but go together. Kidnapping is most of the time  done in the form of organised crimes  and takes different forms. For instance, it can be done in the form of a contract. In this case, the kidnapper is tasked to kidnap a person with the promise of money from the contractor  for  reasons best known to them. Also, a group of people can connive and kidnap a person for their own personal interest. Whichever way, kidnapping is a crime against humanity and a big crime for that matter that could be considered as a terrorist act.

This criminal act is carried out based on selfish and wicked reasons like demanding for a ransom, failure of which the kidnapper threatens more harm to the kidnapped, forcing the kidnapped to do  or commit something against his or her wish. This leads to illegal imprisonment   as the  kidnapped is unlawfully and forcifully taken to custody; a type of confinement without legal authority.

However, kidnapping must surely go with something. A good example of this is the current kidnap incident shown on the national news and as  could also be read in the papers. Kidnapping is a kind of stealing that may not end  only in threat and negotiation, but can be more brutal. Kidnappers always have price, while their victims would always negotiate. And during this negotiation anything can happen like murder. This seldom happens and occurs when the victim do not  have someone to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnapper or when negotiation cannot be met. Kidnappers do not usually return  the kidnapped without having their demands met.

Today, kidnapping has no exception or border. As mentioned earlier, this act is commonly used to siphon money from  one person to another and done as organised crime. The victims  are most of the time from well-to-do families who are ready to drop whatever ransom they demand from them.
To control kidnapping in society therefore, should require total cooperation and providing adequate information to the law enforcement agencies. There should be harsh punishment for anyone that contravenes the law. Lengthy jail terms for the perpetrators whenever they are brought before the judiciary and found guilty can all serve as an appropriate measure to curb this  serious felony.

Author: By Yunus Saliu