Taraba Governor Signs Death Penalty Bill For Kidnappers
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has signed into law a bill that prescribes death sentence and life imprisonment for kidnappers and abduction offenders in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu. The statement added that the bill which was sponsored by Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Peter Abel Diah, was passed with the support of the members of the Assembly. The governor’s assent to the bill follows the amendment of the Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Act 2010 by the Taraba State House of Assembly which introduces the death penalty and life imprisonment for offenders. According to the Speaker, the bill will ensure the protection of Taraba residents against kidnapping. Under the new law, anybody found guilty of abduction or kidnapping in the state will pay the supreme price for it. The law is a product of government’s concern about insecurity in the state, particularly, kidnapping for money which is rampant in the state and other parts of the country,” the statement read in part.
The new bill prescribes punishment for violators as; any person who threatened to kill, maim, injure or cause panic in order to compel another person, corporate or government organisation to do or refrain from doing any act committed an offence and is liable on conviction to 20 years without an option of fine. It also said that any person who threatens to kidnap another person by means of phone calls, text messages or any electronic device shall be convicted to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine. And any person who conceals any information or has knowledge as to the existence of a kidnap group or is aware of the planning and execution of a kidnap or abduction without informing relevant security agencies commits and offence and shall be convicted to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine. The governor’s assent to the bill comes on the heels of rising spate of kidnapping in Taraba State.
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