Ayobamiji Komolafe 
Retired military officers have expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of kidnappings and killings across Nigeria, condemning the government’s failure to impose adequate punishments on those responsible for these heinous acts.
Speaking on this spake of banditry in the country while reacting to alarming reports that over 2,140 people were kidnapped across 24 states between January and July 2024, with families paying nearly N389 million in ransom for the release of 62 victims.
It would be recalled that Nigerians have reportedly paid close to N1 billion in ransom to kidnappers between July 2023 and July 2024, according to security firm SBM Intelligence.
Moreover, data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project indicates that at least 2,336 people were killed in various violent attacks during the first three months of 2024 alone.
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In light of this security crisis, the Senate in June urged President Bola Tinubu to overhaul the country’s response to the persistent attacks, particularly in the North-West and North Central regions, and to establish a task force to secure farmlands and ensure food production and security.
Despite these calls for action, retired military leaders believe that the government’s approach to handling bandits and terrorists has been too lenient, allowing criminality to thrive.
The former Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim (retd.), criticized the lack of accountability and punishment for those involved in violent crimes.
He argued that Nigeria is unique in its failure to penalize individuals who commit such atrocities, warning that the country faces serious consequences if this trend continues.
“Nigeria is the only country in which people are not being punished for committing atrocities, and if the anomaly continues, the country will be in serious trouble,” Agim lamented.
He emphasized that a unified approach to fighting crime is essential, noting that “until we begin to fight crime together, nothing will change.”
Agim also highlighted the reluctance of the judiciary to actively participate in punishing criminals, stressing the need for a revival of strict penalties for criminal behavior.
Similarly, Brigadier General John Sura (retd.), former Commander of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, called for the imposition of capital punishment and public executions for kidnappers as a deterrent.
He argued that drastic situations require drastic actions, asserting that “the government must be ready to come out hard with capital punishment for some of these heinous crimes, particularly kidnapping.
“They should give it capital punishment. And such punishment should be public execution for everybody to see.”
Sura also criticized the influence of Western laws that oppose capital punishment, suggesting that such leniency undermines efforts to combat severe criminality.
He contended that strong laws are necessary to curb the rising tide of kidnappings and violent crimes in Nigeria.
Major General Henry Ayoola (retd.), former Commander of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, echoed these sentiments, accusing the Federal Government of failing to properly identify and address the origins and movements of the bandits terrorizing the country.
He lamented that despite numerous recommendations from security experts, the government has not shown the political will to implement effective measures to tackle the growing menace.
