Ebonyi state government seeks death penalty for kidnappers

The Ebonyi State Government has forwarded an executive bill to the State House of Assembly seeking to make kidnapping a capital offense punishable by death by hanging, with no alternative sentencing options.

Governor Francis Nwifuru announced the legislative move over the weekend during the funeral of the slain traditional ruler of the Ndufu-Alike autonomous community in Ikwo Local Government Area, HRH Eze Francis Igwe.

The late monarch who was the father of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Eric Igwe was abducted on Sunday, March 1, while traveling to church, and was reportedly murdered by his captors the following day.

Speaking at the funeral service, which was officiated by the Assemblies of God Church, Governor Nwifuru lamented a troubling moral deterioration among contemporary youths and expressed deep concern over their readiness for future leadership roles.

Pledging to swiftly implement any judicial verdict against those apprehended in connection with the monarch’s assassination, the governor emphasized that the proposed bill is designed to decisively deter kidnapping and abduction across the state, regardless of whether the motives are financial or political.

“I am worried about our present-day youths taking up leadership positions tomorrow. Some of our youths are not well informed, and they act so irrationally,” Nwifuru said.

“I will not wait to execute the decision of the court over the murderers of this monarch, HRH Eze Francis Igwe. We have sent a bill to the House of Assembly to make kidnapping attract the death sentence by hanging in the state, with no other option. This should serve as a deterrent to those planning a kidnap, whether for political reasons or otherwise.”

Warning that the monarch’s murder must remain the final tragedy of its kind in Ikwo and throughout Ebonyi State, Nwifuru urged youths to abandon criminality and respect community leadership.

During the tributes, former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi, alongside former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, remembered the late royal father as an astute administrator, peacemaker, and dedicated educationist who brought vital development projects such as the Folk Technical College to his community.

The monarch’s eldest son, Eric Igwe, reflected on his father’s life as a devoted family man and moral compass, noting that while the circumstances of his death remain devastating, his legacy will endure. He also shared that his father’s final wish before his passing was for Governor Nwifuru to secure a second term in office.