By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-01-24 06:21:53
Due to a surge in abductions in Nigeria in recent months, several states have taken a tough stance on the crime by enforcing harsh penalties such as death sentences and life imprisonment for kidnappers. The Inspector General of Police deployed intelligent response teams to tackle the growing epidemic.
With no fewer than 10 states committing to implementing these strict measures, the severity of penalties for kidnapping is clear. In Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf confirmed that his administration supports the death penalty for kidnappers, in line with an anti-kidnapping law approved by the immediate past administration.
In Benue, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia expressed a similar commitment to the implementation of anti-kidnapping laws that carry the death penalty for convicts. And in Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri upheld an anti-kidnapping law that allows for death sentences to be issued following a conviction.
An official in Anambra’s ministry of justice revealed that the state’s house of assembly had amended the criminal code to punish kidnapping with a death penalty. In Nasarawa, Governor Abdullahi Sule signed a kidnapping act into law, sentencing convicted kidnappers to death and allowing for the forfeiture of their properties.
Moreover, the enforcement of these laws is supported by tough measures, such as the forfeiture of any property used for kidnapping activities and the imposition of a 20-year jail term on property owners. Enugu, Kwara, Ondo, and Osun governors are also prepared to implement anti-kidnapping laws to deter such criminal activities.
The decision of these states to enforce strict penalties for kidnappers is a significant step toward curbing the abduction scourge in Nigeria. As events unfold, it remains to be seen whether these measures will help to alleviate the crisis and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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