Hope James
The introduction of the cashless policy whose implementation became full-blown with the currency redesign programme of the central bank, introduced in December 2022, brought with it a lot of changes.
Some proponents of this policy, have argued that the reduction of money in circulation has brought about a reduction in crimes especially, kidnapping.
Kidnapping has been one of the crimes plaguing the nation for a long time now. This act has led to the death of many, leaving others traumatized as perpetrators of this crime, more often than not, leave their victims damaged.
Research shows a growing trend of kidnap between 2017 and 2021, noting that 2021 was the worst year as the number of kidnap victims soared, with a total of about N653.7 million paid as ransom in Nigeria between July 2021 and June 2022.
On whether the introduction of the cashless policy has indeed reduced crime rate especially kidnapping in the country, Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, DSP Sunday Abutu, says “It has, to some extent.”
He noted that the unavailability of cash, has made people who indulge in this crime, withdraw from it as they are aware of the fact that transfers could be traced to them.
He further noted that prior to the cashless policy, the state has not recorded a high number of kidnapping as structures have been put in place to curb the crime.
However, veteran Journalist and Chairman, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Chapter, Comrade, Rotimi Ojomoyela, is of the opinion that the cashless policy has not achieved what the policy makers intended it to achieve.
According to him, when the policy was biting hard, there were kidnappings even in the North, with the kidnappers demanding for ransom in dollars.
He further noted that the policy worsened the situation of the Nigerian Economy.
It could be recalled that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, while appealing to lawmakers and Nigerians to demonstrate understanding, insisting that the apex bank was out to fight the incidence of insecurity in Nigeria, said that the redesigned naira notes and CBN’s cashless policy has curtailed the activities of kidnappers and bandits.
DSP Sunday Abutu, while commending the cooperation of the people of Ekiti, urged them to remain security conscious, ensure they do the right thing, avoid boarding vehicles by the road side and say something when they see something.
He noted that if all hands are on deck, together, we will be able to fight insecurity.
