Kidnapping Now a Capital Offense in Nigeria
Until this month, kidnapping (with a gun) in the Nigerian state of Enugu carried a sentence of 10 years. Now, it’s a capital offense. The same is true in Abia State. Additionally, the Assembly in Rivers State passed a bill giving kidnapping with a gun a life sentence. (Click here to see a map of Nigeria.)
Kidnapping has become a daily occurrence in these states, and lawmakers hope that the harsh punishments will deter crime. Plus, they want a “conducive environment for business and the economy of the state.”
According to Uduma Kalu in Awka, the author of “Political Terrorism in Nigeria,” said that the police are a part of the problem. Additionally, he says, lawyers and judges are often kidnapped which makes the justice system less stable.
Source: Library of Congress