Public affairs analyst Chibunna Ubawuike has called for stronger legal measures to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, especially kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Speaking in an interview on TVC News on Monday, June 8, 2026, he addressed the increasing cases of abductions across different parts of the country and stressed the need for more effective deterrence against offenders.
During the discussion, Ubawuike referenced what he described as elements of Islamic legal thought concerning punishment for kidnapping where no harm is done and no ransom is collected. He said: “Even in Islam, Islam has a rule that if someone kidnaps and he did not harm the person and he did not collect ransom and he is caught, the person should be sent on exile.”
His comments come amid ongoing national concern over the surge in kidnapping, banditry, and related violent crimes affecting schools, highways, and rural communities across Nigeria. In recent years, repeated abductions of students, travellers, and villagers have intensified public pressure on authorities to respond more decisively.
Security analysts continue to advocate a mix of stronger law enforcement, judicial reforms, and broader socio-economic policies aimed at addressing underlying drivers such as unemployment, poverty, and weak institutional capacity.
Ubawuike also emphasized that any punitive approach—whether drawn from statutory or religious frameworks—must still align with Nigeria’s constitutional and legal system.
