Nigerian governor declares death penalty for bandits, signs bill into law

Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has backed death penalty for those accused and convicted for kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and cult activities in the state.

The number one citizen in the state, made this revelation shortly after signing into law, a bill passed by the state House of Assembly.

The bill has criminalized terrorism, cultism, kidnapping, cattle rustling among other offences.

The Governor reaffirmed that the law has made anyone caught aiding and abetting the crimes mentioned guilty and liable to life imprisonment or ten years imprisonment without chance of fine.

He declared that his government was committed to combating criminal agents in the state within the ambit of the law, in order to ensure that peace reigns in the state, especially in communities that are regarded as bandits’ hub.

“The new law provides that any person found guilty of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, Cultism or being an informant to the bandits is liable to death penalty.

“Under the law, anyone found guilty of aiding and or abetting the crimes mentioned is liable to life imprisonment, twenty years imprisonment or ten years imprisonment without option of fine.

“The most fundamental focus of governance anywhere in the world is security,” he stated.