Edo State House of Assembly recently approved death sentence for kidnappers. This is now relatively accepted as an imperative measure to stem the tide of the recurring vice.
Edo State is not the first to make such a drastic move. But it is coming at a time the menace is worsening.
The stand of the Edo State House of Assembly is sequel to the amendment of the 2013 Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law which had since provided for life imprisonment and confiscation of property allegedly used for the crime.
The House passed the death sentence during the amendment of the State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025.
Amid growing concerns of kidnapping epidemic in the country, no fewer than 10 states have vowed to implement death sentence and life imprisonment for convicted kidnappers.
More states, including Kogi, Kano, Benue, Bayelsa, Enugu, Anambra, and Nasarawa and another northern state have affirmed commitment to applying the death sentence to anyone convicted of kidnapping in their jurisdictions.
The nation has been on the edge over the wave of kidnappings sweeping across several states and the Federal Capital Territory recently, FCT.
It would be recalled that the anti-kidnapping law had been in existence since the colonial era, but it did not provide any serious punishment for kidnappers until it was amended by the Kano State Assembly.
Under the revised law, any person found guilty of kidnapping would face life imprisonment without an option of a fine.
However, Benue State during the administration of former governor Samuel Otom in 2019 approved death penalty for anyone found guilty of the crime in the state.
A similar law is in place in Bayelsa State where Anti-kidnapping law, which was christened ‘Bayelsa State Kidnapping and Allied Offences Act, 2013’, prescribed death sentence for kidnapping.
It was assented to by former governor Seriake Dickson after it was passed by the House of Assembly.
In Nasarawa, the State Kidnapping Act Prohibition Law, 2020, stipulates death penalty on conviction and forfeiture of any property used by kidnappers while the owner(s) of such a property would be liable to 20 years imprisonment.
Governor Abdullahi Sule assented to the bill passed by the State House of Assembly.
Ondo State has a similar law in place. The penalty is life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, in a move to reinforce the onslaught against kidnappings, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, recently ordered the posting of 54 Assistant Commissioners of Police to head the Force Intelligence Departments at zonal and state command levels nationwide.
Egbetokun, had in September 2023 approved the upscaling of the Force Intelligence Bureau to the Force Intelligence Department to further strengthen the Intelligence department of the Police for effectiveness.
We appreciate the enormous efforts across the country to stem the tide of mindless kidnappings associated with killings.
It is in good stead that more states are already embracing the death penalty option. As we welcome Edo State to the fold, we urge other states to embrace this option as it is a good recipe for deterrence.
