“Tougher Than Ever: Nigeria Eyes Death Penalty to Curb Kidnap Epidemic!”

According to Kayode Ajulo, Ondo State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, implementing the death penalty for kidnapping offenses will enhance the state’s legal framework by ensuring more severe penalties for convicts.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Kayode Ajulo, has said that the proposed legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s criminal justice system will serve as a powerful deterrent against crimes such as kidnapping and cultism. He explained that the bill intends to modernize existing laws to reflect current realities and ensure more effective enforcement.

It will be recalled that the Ondo State Government had earlier announced that any individual found guilty of kidnapping would now face the death penalty by hanging. The government also emphasized that any buildings or facilities used in the course of committing such crimes would be demolished in accordance with the law.

Speaking to journalists in Akure, Ajulo disclosed that the legislation had been thoroughly discussed and approved at the State Executive Council meeting and would be forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly as Executive Bills for legislative consideration.

“The aim of this legislative effort is to replace the existing law with a more robust framework that strengthens criminal statutes in the state, particularly those relating to anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping,” Ajulo stated.

He further revealed that one of the key provisions of the bill includes the death sentence for convicted kidnappers—especially in situations where the abducted person dies in custody. Beyond kidnapping, the bill also targets wider issues of security and public order, and seeks to revise outdated laws, such as those concerning cult-related offences.

Ajulo noted that previous laws failed to address the complicity of family members, friends, or associates of cultists, which limited the scope of enforcement. He added that while the current law recognized only a few cult groups, the growing number of active groups had made it necessary for the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to act decisively.

He stressed that obsolete classifications and weak legal provisions had hindered the criminal justice system, leading to enforcement lapses. Under the proposed bill, penalties for cultism and kidnapping would be significantly increased—raising prison terms from six years to as much as 21 years in some cases, and applying the death penalty when a life is lost in the process.