In a bid to tackle the issue of kidnapping, Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Thursday in Kano directed the state Ministry of Justice to amend the State’s Penal Code, to include death penalty for kidnappers.
He gave this directive at the inauguration of a 16-man Commission of Inquiry into the kidnap of nine children from Kano and their alleged eventual sale into slavery in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Ganduje, appointed retired Justice Umar Wada Rano, as chairman of the commission and gave the commission 30 days to complete and submit its report to the state government.
He said, ”I have already directed the state Ministry of Justice to amend the relevant provisions in the penal code laws of Kano State that provide for the punishment of the offender of kidnapping from imprisonment to death penalty. This will certainly discourage the perpetrators and discourage others from committing this heinous crime in Kano State.
“Some of the victims stayed, as captives for over five years in Anambra State, losing their identity, culture and religious background.
“The nine victims were traced and handed back to their parents. Consequently, the government of Kano state takes this callous crime, as a serious security challenge that shall not be allowed to continue and no stone shall be left unturned,” Ganduje charged
