Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has proposed the introduction of penalties for any government official found negotiating ransom payments with kidnappers within the next six months.
Kalu made the proposal while addressing ongoing concerns over the rising trend of ransom negotiations carried out by individuals within government circles, which he said undermines national security efforts and emboldens criminal gangs.
According to him, the legislation would help strengthen the government’s stance against kidnapping by discouraging officials from engaging in back-channel deals that legitimize ransom payments.
He stressed that the National Assembly must take a firm position that aligns with global best practices, where governments neither support nor negotiate with criminals.
Kalu added that the proposed penalties would serve as a deterrent and reinforce a unified national framework for combating kidnapping and related crimes.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
