-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
24 September 2009
The past three years have seen an upsurge in violence perpetrated by armed groups in Nigeria's volatile1 Niger Delta2. And while attacks targeting the oil industry have been halted for now, kidnapping is on the rise.
Police in oil-rich Niger Delta are struggling to contain a surge in gang-related kidnappings in a region where the vast majority of the population is young and unemployed3.
The involvement of some members of the security forces in a recent abduction, involving the mother of a senior state official in Bayelsa state, has provoked a lot of concern in the region. Bayelsa state police commissioner4 Unuoha Udeka confirmed three policemen orchestrated the abduction and collected a $20,000 ransom5.
"In the issue of the kidnap of the mother of the commissioner for health, three serving policemen were involved," he said. "One of them is on the run. Two are here with us. We have decided6 to try them in orderly room so that we will be able to dismiss them before they are charged to court."
The government says more than 600 people have been kidnapped in Nigeria this year, up nearly 80 percent from last year. Kidnappers7 and hostage-takers extorted8 ransoms9 of more than $100 million between 2006 and 2008.
The Movement for the Emancipation10 of the Niger Delta, the country's main militant11 group, started kidnapping foreign oil workers as part of its campaign for a greater share of the region's wealth.
Criminal gangs have taken advantage of the breakdown12 in law and order in the Niger Delta, carrying out kidnappings for ransom and armed robberies that have left residents living in a state of insecurity.
Previously13, mostly wealthy expatriates were targeted. But more victims are now middle or working class. Even the poorest are snatched off the streets, for ransoms as low as a few-hundred dollars.
Nigeria is considering strict new penalties, including a life sentence for kidnappers, but the death penalty will be invoked14 should a hostage die. The law, if passed, would also see a 15-year sentence for anyone hiding information on hostage-takers.
The government is implementing15 a amnesty program in the Niger Delta aimed at ending attacks that have crippled the country's oil industry.
1 volatile | |
adj.反复无常的,挥发性的,稍纵即逝的,脾气火爆的;n.挥发性物质 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 delta | |
n.(流的)角洲 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 unemployed | |
adj.失业的,没有工作的;未动用的,闲置的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 commissioner | |
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 ransom | |
n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 kidnappers | |
n.拐子,绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 extorted | |
v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 );曲解 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 ransoms | |
付赎金救人,赎金( ransom的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 emancipation | |
n.(从束缚、支配下)解放 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 breakdown | |
n.垮,衰竭;损坏,故障,倒塌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 invoked | |
v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 implementing | |
v.实现( implement的现在分词 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
参考例句: |
|
|