Determined to end the recurring menace of kidnapping, cattle rustling, and like evils, the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has assented to laws that make them punishable by death for perpetrators and those who aid and abet them.
The laws: Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling (Special Provisions) Law, 2021, the Niger State Vigilante Corps (Amendment) Law, 2021 were signed alongside others on Friday. The other laws are the Niger State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, 2020, the Office of the Auditor-General of the State Law, 2021 and the Office of the Auditor General of the Local Government Law, 2021
Governor Sani Bello, at a brief signing ceremony held at Government House Minna, said the Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling Special Provisions Law of 2016 is amended to provide for the punishment of informants and all those involved in the aiding and abetting of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state.
The Governor stated that informants who aid and abet Kidnappers would now have to face death sentence by hanging in public as now enshrined in the state law.
According to him, the law now provides that “whoever instigates any person to kidnap a person or rustle cattle, or intentionally aides, abets or facilitates by any acts of omission or commission of the offence of kidnapping and or Cattle Rustling is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to death by hanging in public”
Governor Sani Bello said the punitive measure is a good move that has become necessary given the security challenges that has continued to threaten the peace of the state and country.
He regretted the unpatriotic activities of informants who, according to him, have contributed to thwarting efforts of the security agencies in combating the nefarious activities of kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
The Governor also noted that the Vigilanté Amedment Law is meant to invigorate and strengthen the state vigilante corps for better operational efficiency in the discharge of their statutory function of complementing the efforts of conventional federal security forces.
Meanwhile, Governor Sani Bello has expressed hope that the signing of the State Assembly Service Commission Law will further enhance the activities of legislators and solidify the already existing synergy between the Executive and the Legislature.
