Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade seeks death penalty for kidnappers; ...sends bill to Assembly

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, on Wednesday, sent an executive bill seeking death penalty for convicted kidnappers in the state to the House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Christian Ita, Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser to the governor in Calabar, the state capital.

According to the statement, the bill also seeks to empower the government to seize properties belonging to convicted kidnappers and other criminals in the state.

It stated that the bill offers rewards to citizens who volunteer information to security agencies on activities of criminals.

This, according to the statement, is to curb incidence of kidnapping in the state.

The statement also quoted the governor as saying the state would not condone any act of lawlessness in view of ongoing effort at improving the state’s economy.

It, however, stated that the state would maintain its leading position as the most peaceful state in the country and the most investor-friendly.

The statement stated that the governor had approved the constitution of a security task force, named 'Operation Skolombo.'

It named retired General Mannings Nyiam as the Chairman of the task force saddled with the task of ridding the state of criminals.

Credit: Nigerian Tribune