Kidnappers may do well to steer clear of Edo State as the government is reported to be tinkering with a law that will spell the death penalty for them if caught.

The hint to this stringent punitive law coming into effect was dropped by the no-nonsense state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, when he granted audience to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and Edo North Traditional rulers at the Government House, Benin City, recently.

According to the Governor: “I am proposing an amendment to the House of Assembly to impose the death penalty on those convicted for kidnapping.”

The Governor said the offence of kidnapping is as serious as that of armed robbery, adding that the instruments of armed robbery are present in every act of kidnapping.

“They use arms to subdue their victims. When you rob, the penalty is death and when you kidnap the penalty should also be death,” he added.

The Governor remarked that security is vital to the growth and development of the society, stressing that insecurity leads to capital flight and unemployment.

Comrade Oshiomhole noted further that though he is the governor of the State the security agencies are under the Federal Government. “The State Security Service, Nigeria Police Force and the Immigration are all agencies of the Federal Government. That is part of the reason why they take as much as 52 percent of the revenue allocation of the Federation.

It is sad that the Federal Government does not equip the Police Force to a level that they have the wherewithal to monitor crime. To deal with criminality now is not just a matter of the commitment of the officers and men, intelligence gathering is crucial,” he said.

The Governor remarked that in spite of these constraints, the Edo State Government has devoted a part of its meagre resources to support the security agencies. He assured that government would not relent in its support to the security agencies in the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole says the prayers of the church have been largely responsible for the peace and progress in the state.

The Governor stated this when he granted audience to His Eminence Baba Aladura I. A. Onyeleonu, the Spiritual Head/Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church at the government house, Benin City.

According to him: “We in Edo State appreciate very much the role of the church. Majority of our people are Christians and they are believers in God. This Government believes that there is only one source of power who is God”.