Death penalty for kidnapping: West-Idahosa, Agbaje, others divided over Oshiomole’s decision

A former member of the National Assembly, Mr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, has thrown his weight behind Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for signing into law capital punishment for kidnappers in the state.
The former lawmaker who represented Ovia North-East and South-West Constituency in the House of Representatives, hailed the governor over his decision, noting that the law would only be successful if it was properly implemented by the appropriate security agencies.
“I am convinced that death penalty for kidnappers will definitely send the signal that the state is not ready to accept criminality,’’ West-Idahosa said.


It would be recalled that Oshiomhole had on Friday, October 18 signed the law making kidnapping in the state punishable by death.
But reacting to the contrary, a human rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), kicked against the verdict, saying it would not stop kidnapping in the state.

National Coordinator of the group, Chino Obiagwu, said that the government should rather concentrate on improving the capacity and efficiency of the police to fight crime.
Obiagwu said: “Making it a capital offence cannot stop kidnapping because the severity of punishment is not a deterrent to crime.
“Death penalty does not solve anything. As a matter of fact, a lot of innocent people will be killed because of poor investigations.’’
Adding his voice to the issue, ace human rights activist and legal practitioner, Fred Agbaje, said the spate of kidnapping in Edo was becoming worrisome, but added that disciplinary laws would not be the best way forward.
“It is not just a question of having punitive laws that will solve the problem of kidnapping in the state.
“Who have they arrested that they want to use as an example that the death sentence has come to stay?
“Passing the law is one thing, whether they will work to effect it, is another,’’ Agbaje said.
He said there was a criminal coalition between kidnappers in Edo and Delta, which must be terminated by security agencies in the two states.