Governor seeks death penalty for kidnappers, sends bill to state assembly

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State says his administration has forwarded an executive bill to the state House of Assembly to make kidnapping a capital offence punishable by death without an option of alternative punishment.

Mr Nwifuru said this on Friday during the funeral of the slain traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike Community in Ikwo Local Government Area, Francis Igwe, Vanguard reported.

“This should serve as a deterrent to those planning a kidnapping, whether for political reasons or otherwise,” the governor said.

Mr Igwe, father of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe, was abducted on 1 March 1 while on his way to church.

He was found dead a day later.

‘Youths’ future is bleak’

Mr Nwifuru, while speaking at the traditional ruler’s funeral, decried the moral deterioration among Nigerian youths.

“I am worried about our present-day youths taking up leadership positions tomorrow. Some of our youths are not well informed, and they act so irrationally.

“I am concerned because, with some of their attitudinal dispositions, there seems to be no future for our youths.

“The youths need to have a rethink concerning certain actions of theirs, especially as concerns their attitudes towards community leaders,” he said.

“They should desist from treating their leaders as holders of their destinies.”

Mr Nwifuru vowed to implement any court decision against those arrested over the traditional ruler’s murder, stressing that the proposed legislation was intended to deter kidnapping in the state.

He maintained that the traditional ruler’s murder should be the last of such incidents in Ikwo and other parts of the state.

The governor described the late traditional ruler as “a forthright, vocal and astute parliamentarian” who represented his people effectively in the old Anambra State.

He said the traditional ruler attracted development projects to his community, including the popular Folk Technical College, which has produced prominent Nigerians.

In their tributes, former governors of the state, Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi, as well as former Senate President, Pius Anyim, described the deceased as a statesman, peacemaker, renowned educationist, administrator and passionate leader who left enduring legacies.

They urged the family and the Ikwo people to take solace in his contributions to society.

Speaking in his tribute, the slain traditional ruler’s first son and former deputy governor, Kelechi, described his father as a devoted family man and role model who guided him on family life, religion, politics and culture.

He said the circumstances surrounding his father’s death remained difficult for the family to comprehend.

The former deputy governor said the family was confident that the legacy of the slain traditional ruler would endure for generations to come.

What the applicable laws say

Kidnapping is illegal in Nigeria.

The offence attracts severe penalties, including life imprisonment and, in certain circumstances, the death penalty.

Criminal Code Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 are the two principal laws that outlaw kidnapping and hostage taking.

While the Criminal Code Act prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which addresses the offence in the context of terrorism, prescribes severe punishment, including death, where the offence resulted in the death of a victim.

However, the punishment for kidnappings varies across the states in the country.

In Ebonyi State, kidnapping is a serious criminal offence.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the applicable legislation on kidnapping is the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Other Related Matters Law, 2009 (Cap. 55, Vol. 2).