Insecurity: Osun Assembly Proposes Death Penalty For Kidnappers

Osun state House of Assembly, Tuesday held a public hearing on a bill seeking to punish Kidnappers by death sentence.

The state legislators had proposed death penalty for anybody found culpable of kidnapping and the bill was discussed and accepted by many groups and individuals who attended the public hearing at the Osun Assembly complex.

Speaking at the public hearing, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, said the boyfriend killer of an undergraduate student of University of Lagos, Favour, that was killed in Ikoyi, Osun state, will get death penalty.

He expressed displeasure over the risen case of kidnapping saying “Osun has witnessed about 6 cases in 2020 alone but we are eager to nip it in the bud.

He said the existing penalty for capital offence like kidnapping were too minimal, “and that is why we deem it fit to promulgate another law that whoever is caught in kidnapping face death penalty.

Owoeye further explained that the Osun kidnapping and other related crimes (prohibition) bill 2020 will compliment efforts of the Amotekun Corps when fully inaugurated.

He stated that it is imperative to have an enabling laws to ensure quick and diligent prosecution of kidnapping offenders.

Owoeye pointed out that ever since the issue of Amotekun Corps, there has been a downward trend in the cases of kidnapping in Osun and other South Western States.

He held that the 7th Assembly under his watch is reviewing the existing laws on kidnapping which recommended 14 years would be reviewed to death penalty.

The Speaker added that should the bill scale through the needed stages, people caught with human parts and kidnappers whose victims dies in the process of the kidnap will face death sentence as against imprisonment that was obtainable before now.

Owoeye noted that with the way kidnapping seem to be becoming lucrative, it is sacrosanct that laws with severe consequences be put in place to avoid many Nigerians becoming kidnapping target.

In his words, “Ever since the issue of Amotekun came up, I have noticed a downward spiral of kidnapping in Osun and other South West states, however I am more afraid of the surge in ritual related cases.

“The whole country was saddened at the gruesome murder and dismembering of 23-yr old favour oladele, a 400l LASU student, for money ritual purposes. We as osunites are more embittered that the killing took place in ikoyi town, our own soil.

“We as parents and community leaders must begin to re-orientate our young ones on this prevailing get-rich-quick syndrome, there is no shortcut to success, the only road I know of is preparation, hard work, patience and perseverance”.

Chairman Osun Civil Soiety Coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal advanced reasons for government at all levels to re-double their efforts in making job available for employable youth stating that it would go a long way to reduce the crime rate.

Police Community Relations Committee Chairman in Osun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu commended the 7th Assembly for championing the crusade of bring sanity to the society.

Shittu opined that the bill should include that any kidnapper found guilty of female sexual assault and harassment should be jailed for 50 years.

Also, the Commandant of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, in Osun state, Mr. Bello Aderemi, backed the proposed bill, saying kidnappers have waisted many lives of their victims.

He advised members of the public to always divulge information for security operatives to be prompt in chasing kidnappers, promising that his members would continue to support the present administration.

In her remarks,All Progresaives Congress (APC) women leader,Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde admonished parents to ensure peoper monitoring of their children this she would assist in the campaign against kidnapping and other related crimes.