Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, has given an account of the efforts being made by government both at the federal and state levels to stamp out the activities of kidnappers in the country.

Speaking as the guest speaker during the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) United Kingdom (UK) Convention 2014, Utuama said the combination of employment generation, introductuion of poverty reduction programmes and sundry preventive measures have greatly brought about a reduction in the activities of kidnappers and kidnapping in the country.

“The combination of employment and poverty reduction programmes, preventive kidnapping measures as well as the speedy trials of kidnap cases and forfeiture of premises where kidnap victims are kept, are yielding positive results,” Utuama said in his lecture on the topic, ‘Kidnapping and Security Threats To Our Nation: Government’s Efforts in Combating the Menace’.

“From the foregoing, the employment of poverty reduction programmes of the federal and state governments has reduced the pool of unemployed youth available to be recruited into kidnapping gangs is on the decrease. The diehard kidnappers are seriously deterred from this evil trade by the Joint Security Patrol surveillance of our highways and cities, and the raiding of flashpoints and kidnappers den,” the deputy governor added.

Utuama equally pointed out that the “the speedy trial of kidnap cases and the strigent punishment of convicts have equally been helpful,” saying: “In this way, the menace of kidnapping is reduced and can hardly constitute security threat to our nation. Although it remains upsetting to the peace and security of the individual victim, we should rest assured that before long with all the jobs generation and poverty reduction programmes being pursued with the desired political will, kidnapping will be stamped out in our country and free our people from the threat.”

•Photo shows Prof.Utuama.