Banditry: Niger State advocates stiffer punishment for informants

Niger State Government in North-central Nigeria has urged the Judiciary and Legislative arm of the State to consider stiffer penalties for kidnappers, bandits and their local informants across the state.

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who stated this during the swearing-in of  Justice Aisha Bwari, as the new Chief Judge of the state, in Minna the state Capital, mentioned that informants are more dangerous than bandits and should be accorded similar punishments with bandits and kidnappers caught.

“A time has come for us to have stiffer measures. I will meet up with the state Assembly on the steps to take to ensure this and I hope the judiciary will execute whatever amendment is made,” he said.

The Governor, who appreciated the efforts of security agencies in curtailing banditry activities in the state, blamed the activities of informants within the communities over the increasing spate of bandits which claimed lives and rendered thousands homeless.

“It has come to our notice that most of these heinous crimes are being executed by members of the communities, in most cases, they are the ones that invite the bandits,” the governor stated.

The new Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Aisha Bwari, gave the assurance of working in tandem with the Executive and Legislature to execute laws for the good of the state.

She further pledged to transform the judiciary in the state, as all hands would be on deck.

Nnenna.O