Kidnappers In Kano Will Get Life Sentences, Rapists Will Bag 15 Years Imprisonment

BEVERLY HILLS, October 31, (THEWILL) – The Kano State House of Assembly has passed into law the bill seeking life imprisonment for kidnappers in the state.

The Majority Leader of the Assembly, Yusuf Atta, read the Kidnapping, Abduction and Forced Labour Amendment Bill 2016 on Monday , before the Assembly and put it to a voice vote.

“The law has been in existence since 1963, but did not provide serious punishment for kidnappers, therefore, we have to amend it to suit the current situation,” he said.

Atta, who represents Fagge Constituency, explained that any person found guilty of kidnapping would face life imprisonment without an option of fine while anyone found guilty of raping or forced labour will also be sentenced to 15 years without an option of fine.

Also, in an interview with journalists after the passage of the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Salisu Riruwe, said the amendment was a welcome development.

“With the passage of this anti-kidnapping law, we are hoping that the rampant cases of kidnapping and abduction in some areas of the state will come to an end,” Riruwe said.

NAN reports that the house has also commenced the amendment process on Kano State Pension Gratuity Amendment Bill 2013 during the plenary.

Story by Oputah David