Osun Monarch, Oluwo Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Perturbed by the incessant cases of kidnapping, banditry and all sorts of criminality in Nigeria, a frontline traditional ruler in Osun state, Oba (Dr) Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland , has recommended a death penalty to any arrested kidnappers, saying this would help put an end to insecurity currently ravaging the country.

Oba Akanbi made the recommendation during a courtesy visits of Royal Fathers in Iwoland to Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Thursday in Osogbo to felicitate with him on his victory at Supreme court judgment which confirmed him as the winner of the September 22 , 2018 gubernatorial election.

The Oluwo charged Governor Oyetola on the need for the state to implement law that would make kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities a punishable offence under the criminal law.

He said, ” The Issue of kidnapping in the state has become so worrisome which demands a harsh penalty for anyone who carried out such evil acts when apprehended .

” We Traditional Rulers wanted to beg the governor on behalf of other royal fathers to strictly enforce a harsh penalty for kidnappers when apprehended.

” If possible, it should be a death penalty instead of life imprisonment as the case maybe, Oba Akanbi said.

According to him, “When the death penalty is enforced, such evil acts would likely be reduced or stopped by the perpetrators who may not want to face such penalty.

” I am convinced that when a death penalty is enforced, that would make the perpetrators to have a rethink and by that the evil acts might be reduced or stopped.

Oba Akanbi further said traditional rulers were ready to support the current administration of Governor Oyetala, adding that the government should create a synergy between the the Chairmen of local governments and traditional rulers especially in the area of tax collection among other things.

” We want the success of this administration with the support of the royal fathers and the citizens .

” We want you to create a synergy between chairmen of local governments and traditional rulers in the area of internal generated revenue (IGR) through taxation, mining among others, he said.

The Frontline traditional ruler who commended security agencies for their efforts towards making the state a safe place, urged the public and key stakeholders to support the current administration to enable it delivered the dividend of democracy .

In his reaction, Governor Gboyega Oyetola appreciated the royal fathers for their visit, adding that the Judiciary was taking a deeper looked into the issue of kidnapping to know the recommended penalty for such evil acts.

Oyetola promised that once the judiciary had finished their quota and its been taken to the public corridor for debate by stakeholders and accepted, he would not hesitate to pass such into law whether death penalty or life imprisonment.

He urged the traditional rulers to collaborate with hunters in their respective communities to support the current administration in fighting crime.

” These hunters knows the nook and cranny of these bushes especially where most of these kidnappers hide. I believe if they can work with the government it would go a long way in putting an end to kidnapping and ritualism in the state.

He noted that the government would look into all the prospects as recommended by the monarchs in the area of IGR with local governments chairmen for the success of his administration.

Oyetola, however, promised the traditional rulers that the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his administration would ensure that the state remained safe for people to stay without panicking.