₦airaland Forum

Constitutional Review: Make Kidnapping Capital Offence, Editors Urge National Assembly

BY BONIFACE Okeke

The Network of Digital Newspaper Editors has called on the National Assembly to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism and make it a capital offence under Nigerian law.

In a statement issued after their monthly meeting on Sunday, the editors urged federal lawmakers to take advantage of the ongoing constitutional review process to enact stringent laws that reflect the gravity of the crime and bolster national security.

The statement, signed by the group’s Director of Strategy and Communications, Mr. Uche Nnadozie, noted that kidnapping for ransom has reached alarming levels in the country, instilling fear in citizens and crippling daily life across rural and urban areas.

“The alarming rise in kidnapping incidents has left the nation in a state of distress. Citizens now live in constant fear and terror due to the heinous activities of these ruthless gangs, who have turned kidnapping into a brutal industry of blood, pain, and death. The highways and farmlands, once considered safe, have become vulnerable zones,” the statement said.

The editors condemned the senseless killings of victims, even where ransom payments have been made, describing such acts as barbaric and deserving of the harshest possible punishment.

“It is utterly heartbreaking and infuriating that these criminals often murder their victims even after collecting ransoms. Their actions are reprehensible and must be met with decisive, lawful force. The government must move beyond rhetoric and act decisively to end this reign of terror.”

They urged the National Assembly to classify kidnapping under terrorism laws to empower law enforcement and the judiciary to pursue and punish offenders with greater force. They also called for enhanced intelligence gathering, improved community policing, and better coordination among security agencies to combat the menace proactively.

“We call on the National Assembly to seize the opportunity provided by the constitutional review to prescribe capital punishment for kidnapping. This will strengthen our legal framework and signal a strong national resolve to defeat this evil.”

The Network noted that several states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers, have already enacted laws prescribing the death penalty or life imprisonment for kidnapping. However, they stressed the need for a unified national law to ensure consistency and effectiveness in enforcement.

“The time to act is now. The lives and safety of Nigerian citizens must take precedence. No society can thrive when its people live in fear of being abducted or murdered. Let this constitutional review mark a turning point in our national fight against violent crimes.”

Make kidnapping and corruption a capital offence.

Let the sword fall on offenders very quickly.

PlasmaTV:
Make kidnapping and corruption a capital offence.

Let the sword fall on offenders very quickly.

you wey dey thief money from your Oga regularly & hiding it, are u sacrificing yourself as the sacrificial corrupt lamb?

Burob:
you wey dey thief money from your Oga regularly & hiding it, are u sacrificing yourself as the sacrificial corrupt lamb?

Are you good?
Is everything fine at home?
Do you need help?

Genuinely curious