Nigeria Kidnap Victims Oppose Government Move to Ban Ransom Payments

KADUNA, NIGERIA - Nigerian lawmakers are set to vote on a bill criminalizing ransom payments after reports that payoffs were made to resolve a series of mass kidnappings. The bill, which would impose stiff prison sentences, is being criticized by relatives of kidnap victims.

In Kaduna, many kidnappings have taken place recently.   Paul Mshelia and his wife woke up on the morning of March 12 to the frightening news that their son had been kidnapped from a forestry college in Kaduna state during a late- night attack. Twenty-nine-year old Yahaya Mshelia was taken along with 38 others and marched through the bush. They trekked for 21 days with few stops until they arrived the captors' camp.