Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on
Wednesday signed into law the anti-kidnapping bill recently passed by the State
House of Assembly, with a pledge to ensure its full implementation to eradicate
kidnapping once and for all in the State.
The Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping Law
imposes a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom. The law also stipulates that where a victim dies
in the course of kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Lagos
House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the spate of kidnapping in the State had
gotten to a level that required decisive action from government, hence the need
for the enactment of the law to send serious message to perpetrators of such
heinous crime.
He said aside the enactment of the law, the State
Government was also putting in place appropriate measures particularly in the
schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent kidnapping and other security
breaches.
The Governor said: “Security is of utmost
importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve
as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within
the boundaries of Lagos.
“Why we use this law to address the challenge and
punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures
particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent security
breaches and it is important that we ensure that everything we do in respect of
this anti-kidnapping law is in good faith and good spirit to eradicate the
issue of kidnapping once and for all in the State.”
Governor Ambode assured that the justice system
would be activated to execute the anti-kidnapping law to the letter to ensure
that any criminal caught is subjected to the full wrath of the law.
Tags
Society