Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared that Government will amend the
State Anti-kidnapping Law to prescribe death sentence for those involved
in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.
Wike made this known during a broadcast in Port Harcourt following the
killing of Johnson Igwedibia, popularly known as Don Waney by the
security forces on Saturday.
He said the three arms of government would work together to amend the
state Anti Kidnapping Law to proscribe death penalty to violent crimes.
“Rivers government has invested heavily on the security of the state and
will continue to do everything within our powers to guarantee the
security and safety of lives and properties.“As a fact, we
will spare no cost in ensuring that nobody will have peace if the lives
and properties of our people make no meaning to them.
“We reiterate
our zero tolerance for all forms of criminality and reassure residents
of our determination to be though with those who undermine peace and
security in the state.
“To underscore our seriousness to fight
violent crime, we shall be amending the Anti Kidnapping Law to proscribe
the maximum death sentence for engaging in cultism, robbery and
kidnapping,” he said.
Wike said the decision of the state government to offer amnesty to all
repentant cultists, militants and criminals was done in good faith and
in the best interest of the state.
He said the full weight of the law shall be discharged on anyone who
failed to genuinely renounce all forms of criminality as stated in the
terms of the amnesty deal.
The governor said the state government would pay N20 million each to any
individual who volunteers useful information that would lead to arrest
and prosecution of 32 wanted criminals in the state.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for sending a delegation led by
Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau, to Rivers to assess
the security situation in the state and to commiserate with the
government and people over the killings
Wike also commended the Nigerian Army and Department of State Security
for bringing the alleged killer Don Waney and his gang to book.
NAN
