The Ebonyi State Government has transmitted an executive bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly proposing capital punishment for kidnapping offenses, mandating death by hanging with zero alternative sentencing options. Governor Francis Nwifuru disclosed this legislative initiative over the weekend at the funeral of the murdered traditional ruler of the Ndufu-Alike autonomous community in Ikwo Local Government Area, HRH Eze Francis Igwe.
Key facts from the development indicate that the late royal father, who was the father of former Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Eric Igwe, was kidnapped on Sunday, March 1, on his way to church and killed by his abductors the following day. Governor Nwifuru vowed to immediately execute any judicial verdict against those arrested for the monarch's assassination, stating that the proposed legislation aims to curb abductions regardless of whether the underlying motivations are financial or political.
Why is the Ebonyi State Government pushing for capital punishment?
Addressing mourners at the funeral service conducted by the Assemblies of God Church, Governor Nwifuru expressed profound concern over declining moral standards among modern youth and their preparedness for future governance. He stressed that the state administration is taking aggressive legislative steps to eradicate criminal abductions permanently.
"I am worried about our present-day youths taking up leadership positions tomorrow. Some of our youths are not well informed, and they act so irrationally," Nwifuru stated during the ceremony.
He added, "I will not wait to execute the decision of the court over the murderers of this monarch, HRH Eze Francis Igwe. We have sent a bill to the House of Assembly to make kidnapping attract the death sentence by hanging in the state, with no other option. This should serve as a deterrent to those planning a kidnap, whether for political reasons or otherwise."
What were the tributes paid to the late traditional ruler?
During the memorial tributes, prominent political figures including former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi, alongside former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, paid homage to the late traditional ruler. They described him as an exceptional administrator, peacemaker, and educationist who attracted essential developmental infrastructure, such as the Folk Technical College, to his domain.
Eric Igwe, the eldest son of the deceased and former deputy governor, remembered his father as a pillar of strength and a moral guide for the family. While acknowledging the painful nature of his demise, he noted that his father's final wish before his passing was for Governor Nwifuru to successfully secure a second term in office.