Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a Kaduna-base Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi have canvased for establishment of special courts to “deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.”
This was contained in a 21-point recommendations, after their meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Gumi had led a delegation of some religious leaders on a visit to Obasanjo on Sunday at his resident in Abeokuta.
The duo cautioned Nigerians to desist from blame game, ethnicising and religionising crimes, and urged respect for one another individually, community-wise, locally, ethnically, religiously and socially.
They said, “Federal government must be proactive, secure necessary and updated intelligence to deal with organised crimes and have common policy for the nation. It is not solving the problem when one state goes for negotiation and molly-cuddling of criminals and another one goes for shooting them. Nor should one state go for ransom payment and another one going against.
“Education is one main key to solve the problem in the long run but it must start now. The 14 million children that should be in school and are out of school must be put in school with local authorities, state governments and federal government working together.
“Wean those who are ready to be weaned out of the bushes and crime, settle and rehabilitate them, give them skills, empower them and let them have employment.
“The hardened criminals must be hard hit with stick. Unlawful carrying of arms should be very seriously punished.
“Federal government should take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional solution.
“Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against criminals.
“Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons. Let the slogan be: Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.”
