Crime
Kidnapping: Enugu, Kano, others to implement death sentence
Amid the growing concern over the raging abduction epidemic in the country, no fewer than ten states have vowed to implement the death sentence and life imprisonment for convicted kidnappers.
The states made the vow on Tuesday as the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, deployed intelligence squads to state commands and formations to tackle the wave of abductions and other crimes across the country.
States including Kano, Benue, Bayelsa, Enugu, Anambra, and Nasarawa and another northern state in separate interviews affirmed their commitment to applying the death sentence to anyone convicted of kidnapping in their jurisdictions.
Officials of Kwara, Ondo, and Osun states vowed to ensure the implementation of relevant anti-kidnapping laws including life imprisonment.
The nation has been on edge over the wave of abductions sweeping across several states and the Federal Capital Territory in the past few weeks.
Dozens of victims have been abducted by gunmen and millions of naira extorted from them in what appeared to be an organised criminal enterprise.
In Kano State, the Director-General of Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa, confirmed that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would apply the anti-kidnapping law which prescribed the death sentence for convicts.
“We will continue with the death sentence on kidnappers as approved by the immediate past administration,’’ Tofa said on Tuesday.
The Anti-kidnapping, Abduction and Forced Labour Bill were signed into law by the immediate past administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje after its passage by the state House of Assembly in October 2016.
The anti-kidnapping law had been in existence since the colonial era, but it did not provide any serious punishment for kidnappers until it was amended by the state assembly.
Under the revised law, any person found guilty of kidnapping would face life imprisonment without an option of a fine.
However, the former governor in 2019 approved the death penalty for anyone found guilty of kidnapping across the state.
“The law provides for death sentence for kidnappers who abduct and kill their victim, while kidnappers who abduct but did not kill their victim, if apprehended and found culpable, would be jailed for life”, Ganduje had said while signing the amended bill into law in 2019.
On his part, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order in Benue State, Fidelis Mnyim, assured that the administration of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia was committed to the implementation of the anti-kidnapping law which stipulated the death sentence for abductors.
He said, “The present administration is 100 per cent committed to the implementation of anti-kidnapping law of the state.’’
The Bayelsa Anti-kidnapping law, which was christened ‘Bayelsa State Kidnapping and Allied Offences Act, 2013’, prescribed the death sentence for the offence of kidnapping.
It was assented to by former governor Seriake Dickson after it was passed by the House of Assembly.
The legislation empowers the governor to sign the death warrant of a person or group of persons convicted for the crime of kidnapping and other related crimes.
The Commissioner for Justice in Anambra State, Prof. Chika Ifemeje, could not be reached for comment but an official in the justice ministry said the Anambra State House of Assembly had amended the state Criminal Code, making it an offence punishable by death for any person convicted of kidnapping.
The official said, “The legislators at one of their plenary sessions amended sections 315 and 316 of the Criminal Code to stipulate capital punishment for offenders.
“Although, no offender has yet been punished and there is no plan yet to review the laws to recommend life imprisonment, the state government, through the relevant agencies and security apparatus, is doing everything possible to ensure strict enforcement of anti-kidnapping laws.”
An official of a state in the North-Central pointed out that in the state where a kidnapping incident involved death, the perpetrators would face the death penalty while a case that did not result in the death of the victim would attract a life sentence.
Nasarawa laws
In Nasarawa, the State Kidnapping Act Prohibition Law, 2020, stipulates the death penalty on conviction and forfeiture of any property used by kidnappers while the owner of such a property would be liable to 20 years in jail.
Governor Abdullahi Sule assented to the bill passed by the state House of Assembly.
He explained that the law was enacted to tackle kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, attempt to kidnap, fake kidnap, false representation to release a kidnapped victim, and assisting in the escape of kidnappers.
Speaking on the measures put in place to eliminate abductions in Ondo, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Charles Titiloye, confirmed that the anti-kidnapping law was being implemented in the state.
The law, he noted, was passed to protect the people of the state.
The commissioner said, “ The bill was signed into law by the Dr Olusegun Mimiko administration. The penalty is life imprisonment.”
A former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Taofeek Abdulsalam, explained that the law was passed by the sixth assembly in the state, adding that the penalty for kidnapping is life imprisonment for the offender.
He said, “ It was passed into law during our time (Sixth Assembly) and the penalty is life imprisonment.”
On his part, the Kwara State AG and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Suleiman, disclosed that the penalty for kidnapping in the state is life imprisonment.
However, in a move to reinforce the onslaught against abductions, the IG on Tuesday ordered the posting of 54 Assistant Commissioners of Police to head the Force Intelligence Departments at zonal and state command levels nationwide.
Egbetokun had in September 2023 approved the upscaling of the Force Intelligence Bureau to the Force Intelligence Department.
In Enugu, the State Government has vowed to implement the provisions of the Anti-kidnapping Law 2009 to the letter.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Aka Eze, says that the Enugu State government led by Governor Peter Mbah doesn’t joke or compromise with the security of lives and properties of her citizens.
“We will implement every law that will curb insecurity in the state including kidnapping. We have laws in Enugu state that have remained dormant until we came on board.
“Therefore, the onus is on us to not only implement extant laws to secure lives and property but also strengthen them or even make new ones as if necessary.”
He added, “Security of lives and property is the number one priority as far as the Governor Peter Mbah administration is concerned. This is what Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) demands of every government
“Enugu State, under Mbah, has no room, no forest, and no space for criminals.”
The PUNCH reports that the Enugu State House of Assembly on February 19, 2009, unanimously passed into law a bill making kidnapping with the use of a gun a capital offence in the State.
The law, however, stipulates a 10-year imprisonment for anybody found guilty of kidnapping without the use of a weapon.
The law which took effect from February 19, 2009, was an amendment of the original law which carried 10 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, a legal practitioner, Rabiu Musa, advised the Federal Government to emulate Plateau State by imposing the death penalty on anyone found guilty of kidnapping-related offences.
Four people have been killed and several others injured after suspected armed herders reportedly attacked Abaushwa community in Nzorov Council Ward, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack occurred around midnight on Monday, with the assailants reportedly invading the community and attacking residents in their homes.
A resident, who identified himself only as Atoundo, said the attack was unprovoked.
According to him, the attackers forced open the doors of some houses and killed residents while they were asleep.
“They came and attacked the community without any provocation, killing people in their sleep. They forced open the doors of their victims and murdered them inside their houses.
“Three persons were killed during the attack, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba, but one of them later died, bringing the death toll to four.”
Dr Frank Kyungun, a former Executive Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board and an indigene of the community, also described the incident as an unprovoked attack.
He said the assailants launched a heavy assault on the community around midnight, killing four people and injuring several others.
“We accompanied the former governor to sympathise with our people and urged them to remain calm and allow the police to carry out their investigations,” Kyungun said.
The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Morris Orwough, condemned the attack in a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Communication and Strategy, Ernest Tortiv.
Orwough said security personnel had been deployed to Abaushwa to restore peace, protect lives and property, and prevent further attacks.
He urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information that could assist efforts to tackle insecurity in the area.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondona, confirmed the attack, saying four people were killed.
“I can confirm that there was an attack in Guma LGA in which four persons were killed by suspected bandits,” Aondona said.
He added that investigation was ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Crime
Agunechemba Hands Over 2 GPMGs, Rocket Launcher to Nigerian Army as Army Chief Commends Soludo
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Agunechemba Security Squad in Anambra State has recorded another major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity following the dislodging of a suspected gunmen’s camp in Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas.
The operation led to the recovery of a cache of arms, including two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and a locally made rocket launcher, which were subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Army.
The development drew commendation from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who praised Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the operations of the Agunechemba security outfit.
The Army Chief reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with sister security agencies and community-based security organisations such as Agunechemba in the fight against crime and criminality in Anambra State.
The breakthrough followed days of intelligence gathering and undercover operations by Agunechemba personnel at major security flashpoints across Anambra South Senatorial District.
According to the publicity secretary of the outfit, Mr Nweke Nweke, the weapons were formally handed over to the Nigerian Army at the office of the Director of Operations in Awka.
The handover, he said, was led by the Director of Operations, Chief Chinenye Ihenko.
Nweke said the gesture reflected Agunechemba’s commitment to fighting crime and enhancing security across the state.
He quoted Ihenko as describing the transfer of the recovered weapons as a further strengthening of the partnership between the military and Agunechemba.
Ihenko also emphasised the importance of working closely with federal security agencies and pledged to sustain collaborative efforts aimed at improving security in the state.
Representing the Governor’s Special Adviser on Community Security, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, Ihenko said the operation that led to the recovery of the weapons was a significant achievement for Agunechemba in its campaign against banditry.
He assured residents of the outfit’s continued commitment to its responsibilities under the state’s Homeland Security framework.
Ihenko, popularly known as Okpompi, also praised the operation for its success, noting that no member of the team was killed despite confronting armed attackers.
He said the gunmen retreated when confronted by the security operatives, abandoning their weapons and fleeing with injuries.
“This operation is among our greatest achievements. Our team performed valiantly without any losses. When confronted by the gunmen, they retreated, leaving their weapons behind and fleeing with injuries,” he said.
Ihenko expressed appreciation to Governor Soludo for the support provided to Agunechemba, saying the backing had strengthened the outfit’s efforts to reclaim areas previously dominated by criminals, particularly in Orumba North and South, Ihiala and Ogbaru.
He also called on residents to continue supporting and praying for the security outfit, stressing that the fight against insecurity requires collective efforts.
The Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, who also heads Agunechemba’s investigation unit, commended the state government for adequately funding the Homeland Security initiative.
He said the successes recorded by Agunechemba had demonstrated the importance of the Homeland Security laws passed by the state in 2025.
Also speaking, the Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha, Colonel Buteus M. Yakubu, represented by Lieutenant P.O. Idowu, conveyed the Chief of Army Staff’s appreciation to Governor Soludo for the achievements recorded by Agunechemba.
He said the Nigerian Army was pleased with the successful collaboration among the military, the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, and Agunechemba.
Idowu assured the state’s Homeland Security team of continued support from the Nigerian Army.
“I will relay your commendable efforts to Colonel Buteus M. Yakubu, who I trust will inform military leadership across Nigeria. I am confident that Agunechemba will receive the necessary support whenever required,” he said.
The event culminated in the formal handover of the recovered weapons to the Nigerian Army, including two General Purpose Machine Guns and a locally made rocket launcher, followed by an exchange of pleasantries among personnel of the Nigerian Army, Agunechemba leadership and members of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
At least six soldiers and 12 civilians have been killed after suspected terrorists launched coordinated attacks on communities in Zamfara and Sokoto states, overrunning a military outpost, abducting scores of residents and setting a family ablaze.
The attacks occurred late Saturday night in Kasuwar Daji, Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and Lajinge village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
In Zamfara, residents said the terrorists stormed Kasuwar Daji at about 11:30 p.m., overpowering a military outpost before attacking the community.
Six soldiers were reportedly killed during the assault, while no fewer than 75 residents were abducted and taken into the forest. The attackers also looted shops and other properties.
A resident, Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, said the gunmen arrived in large numbers and first engaged the military before turning their weapons on civilians.
“Our calls to the Zamfara State Government and the Federal Government are to come to the aid of Zamfara people generally on this insecurity bedevilling the state.
“We are really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens,” he said.
Former Deputy Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed the incident, saying he was informed by relatives while he was outside the state.
“I was told that the terrorists even killed soldiers, but I was not told the actual number. Again, I was told that after looting shops of foodstuffs, drinks and other properties, they also abducted an unspecified number of residents whom they took into the bush,” he said.
The Zamfara State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the attack as of press time. Its spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he would verify the report after contacting officers in the area.
Father, two sons burnt alive in Sokoto
In neighbouring Sokoto State, suspected terrorists attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, killing at least 12 people in an assault that residents said lasted for more than four hours without any security intervention.
The attackers reportedly invaded the community at about 11 p.m. on Saturday and continued shooting until around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
A resident, who spoke anonymously, said 11 victims were killed by gunfire, while a woman identified as Agada reportedly died from shock during the attack.
He said six people, including a father and his two sons, were burnt alive after the terrorists surrounded the house where they had taken refuge.
“They ordered those inside to come out, but they refused. The attackers then poured petrol on the room and opened fire. When those inside attempted to escape through the door, they kept shooting at them. Their bodies were left inside the burning room,” he said.
Those reportedly burnt to death were identified as the head of the household, Mallam Wauro, popularly known as Mallam Roro; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives, Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person sheltering in the house.
Another resident, Lawwali, was reportedly shot dead while attempting to flee the compound, bringing the reported death toll in the household to seven.
Other victims, including Yusuf and three internally displaced persons, were also reportedly shot while trying to escape from the village.
A community vigilante member said local volunteers were overwhelmed by the terrorists’ superior firepower.
“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire. We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer,” he said.
According to him, the attackers moved freely through the village after overpowering the local vigilantes and rustled cattle and sheep from several homes.
“They stationed one of their rifles in a strategic location that kept firing while the others entered houses to steal livestock,” he said.
He added that the gunmen later attacked Mallam Wauro’s residence, killing him and two of his sons, abducting his two wives and taking away all his cattle.
Residents said they could not immediately establish the exact number of people abducted because some of those initially taken away, particularly children, were later released.
They lamented that the terrorists operated unhindered for several hours.
“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention. They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community,” one resident said.
The villagers alleged that security personnel stationed in nearby Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu, both about two kilometres from Lajinge, failed to respond despite repeated distress calls.
They also disclosed that eight people had been killed in the community about three weeks earlier and appealed for urgent government intervention.
“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property. We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities,” another resident appealed.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was on transit and would verify the incident upon arriving at his office.
Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, operating under Operation UDO KA and through ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II, have uncovered and exhumed the remains of late Chief Ibe Anyadu of Aggah Community in Imo.
Anyadu was allegedly murdered by suspected members of a criminal gang recently apprehended in connection with violent crimes in South-East.
This is contained in a statement issued by Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army in Enugu on Monday.
Ayeni said that the development followed recent intelligence-driven operations that led to the arrest of suspects responsible for the killing of a Nigerian Army soldier and the recovery of stolen service weapons.
According to him, during interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to involvement in the murder of Anyadu and volunteered to lead troops to the burial site.
“On Aug. 2, the suspects guided troops to a shallow grave within Umudike Forest, one of the criminals’ known camps, where the remains of the late community leader was successfully exhumed.
“The exhumation was conducted in the presence of the deceased’s family members, vigilante personnel from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, and representatives of Aggah and Umudike communities.
“The family provided a coffin and ambulance to ensure a dignified burial in accordance with their customs and traditions,” he said.
The Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, Maj.- Gen. Oluremi Fadairo, extended his condolences to the family of the late
Anyadu and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Fadairo, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, assured the family and the people of Aggah Community that justice would be served, as the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the laws
“Headquarters Operation UDO KA, as part of ongoing peace-building efforts in the South-East, remains committed to dismantling criminal networks and bringing perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.
“The public is encouraged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, which remains vital to the success of ongoing operations,” he said.
The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested four suspects for armed robbery and cultism, recovering firearm and other exhibits in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Saturday in Enugu.
Ndukwe noted that the operational successes led to the arrest of two armed robbery suspects and two suspected cultists in separate operations.
“On July 27 at 6:20a.m., operatives of Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on confessional statement of a suspected member of the Black Axe Confraternity, and recovered one pick-handle axe.
“The suspect had earlier been arrested at a hotel in Independence Layout, Enugu, on July 26 with a knife recovered from him, while another accomplice escaped.
“The duo allegedly robbed a victim of a Samsung A12 mobile phone at the hotel from a male victim, while another victim sustained an injury to a finger on his right hand during the robbery.
“The robbed phone, knife, and pick-handle axe were all recovered,” he said.
Ndukwe also noted that at 12 noon on July 26, following credible information and collaboration with law-abiding residents, operatives attached to the command’s Igbo-Etiti Police Division arrested two male suspected cultists in Ukehe community.
The spokesman said that the suspects were found in possession of one locally-made pistol and one expended cartridge, which were recovered from them.
According to him, they also confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.
He said that Investigations are currently ongoing to arrest other accomplices still at large and recover additional exhibits.
Ndukwe said that all detained suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The state’s Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mamman Giwa, had commended the vigilance and cooperation of members of the public, particularly the law-abiding residents of Ukehe Community.
The commissioner urged residents to remain law-abiding and continue to provide timely and credible information to the police to enhance the fight against crime and criminality across in the state.
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