From: Molly Kilete, Abuja
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has attributed the high rate of kidnapping in the country to the non-availability of stiffer penalties for offenders.
He said criminals were taking advantage of this lapses to engage in the illegal act which they consider a booming business.
This not withstanding, the IGP has charged state commissioners of police to identify all black spots in their states with a view to embarking on constant raiding of such spots to flush out kidnappers and other criminal groups terrorising the country.
Idris made this known at a meeting with commissioners of police and above at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja.
He specifically charged commissioners of police in charge of Kaduna and Niger states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to as a matter of urgency, stop the carnage of kidnapping on the Abuja/Kaduna Expressway.
He suggested the three axis initiating community policing mechanism and meetings with religious and traditional leaders and members of the communities to find lasting solution to end the menace.