The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson has prescribed death penalty for kidnappers.
A bill to this effect will be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for passage into law as the State House of Assembly in 2012 passed into law, the bill prohibiting secret cult, kidnapping and related vices in the state.
He made this known during the swearing-in ceremony of the Chairman and members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Agbere communal crisis that led to loss of lives and properties late last year.
At the banquet hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, the Governor while inaugurating the Chairman and four members of the commission of inquiry to look into the communal clash that rocked Agbere community in Sagbama local government area of the State, said that he would not hesitate to sign the death warrant of kidnappers or those attempting to commit the crime.
Government would no longer condone acts of lawlessness he declared.
He threatened that any traditional ruler caught aiding and abetting kidnapping and other related vices would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Bill, according to him, became imperative in order to forestall disruption of government’s developmental projects.
He thereby urged youths to take advantage of government’s policies and programmes geared towards building their capacity.
However, he commended law-abiding youth of the state noting that reports reaching government indicated that there have been no cases of disruption of on-going projects across the state.
Delivering the four point terms of reference, the Governor charged the Commission of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the Agbere communal crisis so also identify the principal actors and their sponsors.
The Commission has Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro as Chairman and Mr. Diepreye Omubo as the secretary.
Other members are, Barrister Henry Apeli, Mr. Emienbo Assayomo and Mr. Brown Ekwuoba.
Responding, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro assured the Governor that they would discharge their duties satisfactorily to the best of their ability without fear or favour.