Edo: It’s Death Penalty For Abductors, Others

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Kidnappings, and other related criminal activities will now attract maximum death penalty in Edo State, according to a new law passed by the Lawmakers.

At plenary on Tuesday February 18, 2025, the State Legislators, unanimously voted to amend the  existing anti-kidnapping law of 2013.

The Source reports that the 2013 law only provided for life imprisonment at most for convicted  abductors and other related offences.

The law had also provided for the confiscation and forfeiture of all proceeds of kidnappings, as well as identified abduction cells and facilities.

With the review, however, convicted kidnappers will be liable to death sentence in addition to the forfeiture of all proceeds from such crimes.

Earlier, the Majority leader of the House, Hon Charity Aiguobarueghian, had moved a motion for the House to dissolve into a committee of the whole, for the purpose of  “clause by clause consideration of the bill.

The legislators, thereafter, entered into the Committee of the whole House after Hon Henry Okaka, the minority leader had seconded the motion by the Majority leader.

Most of the Lawmakers who spoke before the bill was passed expressed the confidence that death sentence will go a long way in mitigating kidnappings and other related criminal activities in the state .

They also decried the astronomical increase in cases of abductions of innocent residents, in recent times in the State.

The Source reports that the State in the last few weeks has been rocked by sporadic cases of both low and high profile abductions, including a traditional ruler.

The bill when signed into law by the state Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is expected to drive a measure of fear into the spines of kidnappers.