NIGERIA: KANO PRESCRIBES DEATH PENALTY FOR CULPRITS

November 23, 2016: Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has signed into law the state Kidnapping, Abduction and Forced labour bill which prescribed death penalty to culprits of kidnapping offense.
Speaking shortly after the signing of the bill, Ganduje explained that the law became necessary in view of the spate of kidnappings in the state, particularly in local government areas neighboring Falgore forest.
“The law provide for death sentence for kidnappers who abduct and kill their victim, while kidnappers who abduct but did not kill their victim, if apprehended and found culpable, would be jailed for life”, the governor announced.
Governor Ganduje, therefore advised kidnappers to repent and hand over their weapons to security agencies, saying those who do so would be considered for rehabilitation to enable them re-integrate into the society.
The bill titled ‘Kidnapping, abduction and force labor amendment law’ which was initiated by the Kano State House Assembly.
While reading the bill on the floor of the house, the Deputy Majority Leader of the house, Alhaji Maifada Bello Kibiya, said although the law has been in existence since 1963 under the Northern Province, but both the meaning and punishment were not in conformity with the currently happening, hence, the need for amendment.
He said: “According to the provisions of sections 271 and 273 of the old law, whoever takes an under 14-year old male or under 16-year old female out of his locality or from his guardian without the consent of the guardian such person commits kidnap offense and shall be jailed for 10 years.
“Going by the current method of kidnapping, sections 271 and 273 of the law need to be amended by removing the age limit and making the punishment to life imprisonment.” (Sources: dailytrust.com, 23/11/2016)