From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nasarawa State Government has disclosed that it would ensure full implementation of the death penalty stipulated for violators of the law prohibiting kidnapping and rape, recently enacted in the state to serve as deterrent for people who may want to indulge in such heinous acts.
The Governor of the state, Engr Abdullahi Sule stated this on Wednesday at the flag off ceremony of awareness creation programme against the spate of kidnapping and rape in the state , held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall , Government House , Lafia.
According to him, the recent kidnapping and other criminal activities perpetrated in the state was worrisome as it has continued to pose danger to human lives, as well as heighten fears in the people of the state.
He assured that his administration will continue to provide a serene environment for economic activities by ensuring that all perpetrators of criminal acts are punished accordingly.
“As you are aware, in recent times, kidnapping and other sundry crimes have become quite worrisome and a course for concern not only to the people of the State, but also the international community as a whole. The unpleasant situation has continued to pose danger to human lives, as well as heighten fears in our people, who no longer move freely in the society.
“This is considering the fact that these heinous crimes have negative implications, particularly on the girl child, resulting to psychological trauma, stigmatization of the victim and often times a bleak future.
“It is for this reason that this Administration responded to the ugly situation by signing into Law on the 2nd April, 2020 for the prohibition of the act of Kidnapping and Rape which has been gazetted in order to stem the tide of kidnapping and rape in the state.
“The Law prohibits Kidnapping and Rape and further stipulated stiff penalties for violators, including death sentence in extreme cases, especially where the victims of kidnapping loses their lives. In this regard, I must stress that Government will ensure full application of this Law to deter people from committing or indulging in the heinous acts,” Governor Sule said.
He, lauded the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism for conceiving the idea for the sensitisation programme, aimed at creating awareness, as well as educating the general public on the dangers of kidnapping and rape, considering its attendant consequence on human lives as well as the socio-economic development of the state.
The governor commended the security agencies in the state for their doggedness and resilience in the fight against crimes and criminality which according to him has led to the release kidnapped persons, especially the clergymen and some top government functionaries, among others.
He , therefore appealed to the general public to exercise restraint on the current spate of protest on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force tagged ENDSARS, calling on youths in the state to remain calm as government was already on top of the situation.
In his remark, the state commissioner of police, CP Bola Longe said 40 rape cases were recorded while 30 persons have been arrested in the last six months in the state.
He added that the police command has taken measures to tackle crimes especially rape, kidnapping, banditry among others , even as he called on the general public to support the command through information sharing.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon Dogo Shammah, said the sensitisation programme was aimed at creating awareness among the people of the state to enable them support government in its fight against kidnapping , rape and other forms of crimes perpetrated in the state.
He assured of his ministry’s commitment to ensuring that the information agenda of government is diseminated to the nook and crannies of the state.
