Niger State Goes Tough on Kidnapers, Cattle Rustlers -As Governor Assents 2 Bills New Law Prescribes Death Penalty

Tough times now awaits kidnappers and cattle rustlers in Niger State as the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has given his assent to two laws which now prescribe the death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the North Central State of Nigeria.

The two laws recently passed by the Niger State House if Assembly are the Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling (Special Provisions) Law, 2021 and the Niger State Vigilante Corps (Amendment) Law, 2021.

The Governor also gave his assent to 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.

Speaking shortly after giving his assent to the legislations, Sani Bello said the Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling Special Provisions Law of 2016 was amended in order to provide for the punishment of informants and 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 the 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” 

He explained that the punitive measure has become imperative given the security challenges that has continued to threaten the peaceful coexistence of the state in particular and the country in general. 

The Governor regretted the unpatriotic activities of informants who, according to him, have contributed to thwart the efforts of the security agencies in combating the nefarious activities of kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the state.

He also noted that the Vigilante Amendment 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 agencies.

Sani Bello has expressed the 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.