Edo Lawmakers Approve Death Sentence for Kidnappers

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025, which now mandates the death penalty for individuals convicted of kidnapping.

The motion to consider the bill was moved by the majority leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who called for the assembly to resolve into the Committee of the Whole for a clause-by-clause examination of the bill. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Henry Okaka, who represents the Owan East constituency.

As the bill was reviewed, the lawmakers amended the existing Kidnapping Law of 2013, which had previously prescribed life imprisonment and the confiscation of property used in kidnapping. The new amendment increases the penalty to the death sentence for offenders, along with the continued confiscation of property linked to the crime.