Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to ensure that bandits, kidnappers and criminals are made to face the full wrath of the law.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said adequate punishment would weaken bandits, kidnappers and criminals from carrying out their evil acts.
In a statement he issued, Atiku reiterated his earlier call for a state of emergency on Nigeria’s education sector amid attacks from bandits.
He urged the Federal Government to invest more in securing the lives of Nigerian youths.
“When criminals profit from their criminality, crime will increase.
“The only response from all governments in Nigeria to acts of abduction, kidnapping and unlawful detention of persons ought to be to bring the full weight of the law on the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
“Once these criminals have clarity on what awaits them should they tow such evil paths, then their audacity to commit evil will be weakened, and gradually, this ugly chapter in our national life will become a thing of the past.
“I renew the call I made on Monday, March 15, 2021, for a state of emergency to be declared in the education sector and for 24 hour armed guards to be posted at all schools in the affected states.
“Yes, it is an expensive venture. Nevertheless, we must accept that whatever we invest in preserving the lives of Nigeria’s youth is worth the price, as nothing is, or can be more valuable to us than our youths, who will take up the baton after we are gone.”