Prof.
Aaron
Baba,
Special
Advicer
on Technological
Development
Site Powered by Directorate
of Science &
Technology,
Kogi State
Updated
November 30, 2008
VOL.
13 No. 747 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17 - TUESDAY SEPTEMBER
22, 2008 ISSN 1116 - 7085 N70.00
Kogi
Proposes Death Penalty for Kidnappers * Govt Exposes Suppliers of Weapons in
Ebiraland
* Their names Already sent to Security
Agencies for Action
* Vigilante Group Disbanded, outlawed By Aduku Aruwa
Kogi State government has proposed death
penalty for anyone caught engaging in the
act of kidnapping in the 21 Local Government
Areas of the State.
Commissioner for Information, Chief Tom
Ohikere revealed this after the recent State
Executive Council meeting. He explained that
when the bill is passed into law the offence
will carry a maximum of death penalty and
minimum of life imprisonment for kidnappers.
Also, government has forwarded the names of
the alleged suppliers of arms and ammunition
circulating in Ebiraland to the security
agencies for investigation.
The commissioner also disclosed that
government has directed security agencies to
arrest, investigate and prosecute the 21
persons identified in the white paper report
to have either directly or indirectly been
responsible for the mayhem recorded on
December 8, 2009 in Okene and its environs.
According to him, government has also
directed that an existing vigilante groups
in Okene Local Government area be disbanded
with immediate effect as part of measures to
finding lasting solution to the frequent
crisis in the area.
Under a new government arrangement and
guideline, any community in Okene that
henceforth wished to establish a vigilante
group, must apply and obtain approval from
the local government council and relevant
security agencies.
Following the recent crisis witnessed in
Anyigba and Ejule, the council has warned
that it would no longer condone lawlessness,
arms trading and violence from any youth,
maintaining that the appropriate security
agencies would be supported to combat
violence by youths across the state.
Meanwhile, the state government has
expressed interest in the establishment and
operation of an export free trade zone to
boost its economy. To this end, an
application fee of 1000 dollars is to be
paid to Nigeria export processing zone for
the detailed feasibility study on the
project.
