Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has urged the National Assembly to recommend robust strategies to prevent kidnappings in the country.

Nwoko representing Delta North, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the joint committees of the National Assembly on security agencies should interface with relevant stakeholders and come up with novel measures to tackle the menace.

According to him, kidnapping has increasingly made life difficult for citizens and is affecting the economy, including food security.

Nwoko said this would have far reaching effects on the country’s prosperity.

The senator particularly said that the kidnappers had gradually made life difficult for residents of the FCT, particularly in Kuje Area Council.

Nwoko said in spite of the efforts being made by security agencies, a lot needs to be done in tracking and apprehending the kidnappers.

He also called for enforcement of the 2023 law that criminalised payment of ransom to kidnappers.

The lawmaker, whose legislative aide and 18 others were recently abducted in the Galadimawa area of Abuja, said it was important to take appropriate measures to end the menace.

He, therefore, called for a joint operation involving the Army, Air Force, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS) to intensify the search efforts for the captives.

Nwoko also urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to seek funding for  installation of CCTV cameras in strategic locations within and around Abuja, and along the highways, and major capital cities to bolster surveillance and deter criminal activities.

“The IGP  should also urgently increase security patrols and surveillance within Abuja and across the nation to proactively combat and prevent further kidnappings.

“In view of this, I recently moved a motion on urgent action needed to fortify security, and tackle the surge of kidnapping in the FCT,” he added.

The Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch, has eliminated a dreaded terrorist and kidnap kingpin, Yellow Jambros, and scores of other terrorists in airstrikes in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) made this known in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the terrorists met their end while attempting to cross the Jikudna River in Galadima Kogo District, heading towards Wurukuvhi axis of Chikun LGA.

He said that Yellow Jambros and his cohorts were trailed from Zamfara into Niger riding 13 motorcycles along the Kaduna-Niger State border, precisely heading towards Kusasu in Shiroro, prior to the strike.

“At Kusasu, five other motorcycle-riding terrorists joined Yellow Jambros’ convoy, bringing the total number of motorcycles to 18, which then headed to the bank of River Jikudna.

“At the river bank, the terrorists and their 18 motorcycles boarded a large motor-powered canoe in an attempt to cross and link up with other terrorists across the river.

“It was at this point that the authorisation to undertake a strike was given.

“The precision strike was adjudged effective as it neutralised Yellow Jambros and his colleagues, destroyed their motorcycles and sank the boat.

“Though it was unusual for terrorists riding in a convoy of 18 motorcycles to travel in broad daylight, it was apparent that Yellow Jambros and his cohorts had assumed that air strikes were suspended following the unfortunate incident at Tudun Biri in Kaduna State and wanted to exploit the perceived window of opportunity,” he said.

The NAF spokesman said that Yellow Jambros and his cohorts had been responsible for several kidnappings and killings along the Abuja-Kaduna Road and in several communities in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina and Zamfara States.

He said a kidnap kingpin, known as Mohammed Sani, who arrested by the Police in Zamfara in October 2020 for murdering over 50 of his victims due to their inability to mobilise ransom, had claimed that he worked for Yellow Jambros.

According to Gabkwet, the terrorist revealed that Yellow Jambros usually supplied him with fake military and police uniforms, guns and other weapons needed to execute his operation.

The 64th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Heads of State and Government is holding in Abuja, Nigeria.

The session, to be chaired by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, is attended by Heads of State and Government in the 15-member block.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that countries like Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone are already at the venue at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Other members attending are Benin, Gambia, Togo, Cape Verde and Senegal.

The ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders like former President Goodluck Jonathan, the U.S. Lead diplomat for Africa, Molly Phee, the African Union (AU), and the UN Secretary General Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonado Simao, are also attending the meeting

The end-of-year meeting is expected to review various decisions and agreements taken and initiated by the body including that of the adoption of the ECO as a common currency for the region.

The issue of the coup d’etat in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea would also be deliberated on by the regional body at this meeting.

Other issues are climate change, democracy, bilateral relations as well as the African Continental free Trade Agreement.