According to a statement by Mr Christian Ita, Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser to the governor, in Calabar, the bill also seeks to empower the government to seize property belonging to convicted kidnappers and other criminals in the state.

It said that the bill offers rewards to citizens who volunteer information to security agencies on activities of criminals.

This, according to the statement, is to curb the incidence of kidnapping in the state.

The statement also quoted the governor as saying that the state would not condone any act of lawlessness in view of ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state’s economy.

It, however, stated that the state would maintain its leading position as the most peaceful state in the country and the most investor-friendly.

The statement stated that the governor had approved the constitution of a security task force, named “Operation Skolombo.”

It named retired Gen. Mannings Nyiam as the chairman of the task force, saddled with the task of ridding the state of criminals.