Niger state government in North Central Nigeria, has assented to the kidnapping and cattle rustling laws in accordance with section 100 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Other laws assented by the State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello includes; the Niger State Vigilante Corps (Amendment) Law, 2021; the Niger State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, 2020; the Office of the Auditor-General of the State Law, 2021 and the Office of the Auditor General of the Local Government Law, 2021.
Mary Noel Berje, the Spokesperson to the Governor in a statement to Voice of Nigeria said that the Laws were assented to at a brief event held at government house Minna the state capital on Friday.
The statement further mentioned that the Kidnapping and Cattle Rustling Special Provisions Law of 2016 is amended to provide for the punishment of informants and all those involved in the aiding and abetting of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state.
The Governor stated that informants who aid and abet kidnappers would now have to face death sentence by hanging in public as now enshrined in the state law.
“Whoever instigates any person to kidnap a person or rustle cattle, or intentionally aides, abets or facilitate by any acts of omission or commission of the offence of kidnapping and or cattle rustling is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to death by hanging in public”.
Governor Sani Bello said the punitive measure is a good stride and has become necessary given the security challenges that has continued to threaten the peaceful coexistence of the state in particular and the country in general.
He regretted the unpatriotic activities of informants who, according to him, have contributed to thwarting efforts of the security agencies in combating the nefarious activities of kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
The Governor also noted that the Vigilante Amedment Law is meant to invigorate and strengthen the state vigilante corp for better operational efficiency in the discharge of their statutory function of complementing the efforts of our conventional federal security forces.
The Niger state Governor Sani Bello however expressed hope that the signing of the State Assembly Service Commission Law will further enhance the activities of Legislators and solidify the already existing synergy between the Executive and the Legislature.
Emmanuel Ukoh
