Nigeria: Senate vetos law that will see kidnappers given the death penalty

The Nigerian Senate has agreed on the enactment of a law that will see kidnappers given the death penalty

The Senate further recommended that funding of security agencies be a priority amid the growing incidents of kidnapping in the country with over 225 cases recorded in October and November 2015 with over 28 million Naira paid in ransom by victims reports the Vanguard 

In recent times, instances of kidnapping and hostage taking have been on the rise in Nigeria, spreading from the ‘usual suspect’ areas in the south-south and southeast to other parts of Nigeria, thereby becoming a national cause for concern. Last week, a former Nigerian minister was taken in Ogun state while returning home from her farm.

On Tuesday, a state of emergency was declared in Kaduna state due to the high rate of kidnappings. Lagos and Abia States have also recently experienced similar scenarios involving the kidnapping of students, workers, and expatriates alike, with kidnappers demanding for ransom in most cases.