On Tuesday, Taraba State House of Assembly revised the 2010 State Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Act to introduce death penalty and life imprisonment for offenders.
During the plenary session, the Majority Leader and member representing Karim Lamido 1 constituency, Charles Maijankai, passed the motion to amend the Act supported by House Minority Leader Bashir Mohammed.
The Speaker, Abel Diah, said the bill would become the Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Amendment Act 2019 upon its approval by Governor Darius Ishaku.
Mr. Diah, who represents Mbamnga constituency, said the bill would protect the state citizens from abduction.
The speaker said section three, four, seven and eight of the 2010 Act were modified by the new bill.
He indicated that the bill stipulates that any person who kidnaps or abducts a person or by any other means will be sentenced to death for instilling or tricking another individual with the intention of demanding ransom or forcing another individual to do anything against his desire.
He clarified that the individual will also forfeit all assets that will be traceable to him or her to the government of the state.
The speaker also said that anyone who tries to kidnap will be sentenced to life imprisonment while anyone who willfully permits the use of his building or premises for the act will be sentenced to life imprisonment without a fine option.
“The new bill prescribes punishment for violators as; any person who threatened to kill, maim, injure or cause panic in order to compel another person, corporate or government organisation to do or refrain from doing any act committed an offence and is liable on conviction to 20 years without an option of fine.
“It also said that any person who threaten to kidnap another person by means of phone calls, text messages or any electronic device shall be convicted to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
“And any person who conceals any information or has knowledge as to the existence of a kidnap group or is aware of the planning and execution of a kidnap or abduction without informing relevant security agencies commits and offence and shall be convicted to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine,” he said. (NAN)
