Lawmakers back death penalty for kidnappers

dimeji akinloye

May 4, 2016 7:04 PM

The senate was said to have approved the law for the death penalty when it came up for debate.

Following the incessant abductions across the country, the Senate has reportedly resolved to enact law, which prescribes death penalty for kidnappers.

The development followed the recommendations of the report by the Joint Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence on the "unfortunate re-occurrence of kidnapping and hostage taking’’ in the country.

According to Nigerian Bulletin, the report had only six recommendations, but most of the senators suggested stringent punishment to serve as deterrent to others.

This was said to have prompted the addition and adoption of the recommendation for death penalty, which was proposed by Senator Adamu Alliero and adopted by the Senate.

The senate also debated on the need to increase the information sharing dynamics between security agencies so as to foster more efficiency between agencies, noting that investigations have been hampered due to security agencies not working properly with one another.

Report said the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, blamed Nigerians for hurriedly paying ransom demanded by kidnappers out of panic - he said that has not helped matters.

READ: Abductors of Akwa Ibom monarch’s wife, children ask for N100m

On his part, the senate president, Bukola Saraki praised the efforts of the committee, stressing the need for such a stringent law to curb the prevalence of kidnapping.

Pulse recalls that just last week, a former minister, Iyabo Anisulowo, was kidnapped in Ogun State while returning from her farm. She spent six days in her abductors' den before regaining freedom.

dimeji akinloye