In a move to curb the growing menace of kidnapping and violent crimes, the Ondo State Executive Council has approved the death penalty by hanging for anyone convicted of kidnapping in the state.
The decision was announced by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, shortly after a council meeting chaired by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in Akure, the state capital.
Ajulo stated that the death penalty is one of several stringent measures the state government is adopting to restore security and public confidence. He described kidnapping and cultism as major threats to lives, property, and the socio-economic stability of the state.
“The death penalty will serve as a deterrent and help us reclaim our communities from criminal elements,” Ajulo said. “The government is determined to rid the state of all forms of insecurity.”
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He further disclosed that the council has agreed to begin the process of repealing existing laws on kidnapping, with new proposals to be forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly for legislative approval.
The reforms, he added, will also allow for the demolition of any property used as a base for kidnapping operations.
Ajulo assured residents that these legal reforms are part of a broader security strategy aimed at enhancing law enforcement, promoting infrastructure development, and deepening governance at the grassroots level.
The move comes amid rising concerns over the spate of abductions in the state, prompting calls for tougher laws and better policing to safeguard lives and property.