Wike signs anti-kidnapping law, warns criminals

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, declared that the new anti-kidnapping law passed by the State Assembly would help in checking the menace of kidnappers in the state.Wike made this declaration at the Government House in Port Harcourt after giving his assent to the bills on Rivers State Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (Amendment) Law, 2015; Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) Amendment Law, 2015; and the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Law No.4 of 2015, passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The governor said with the law becoming operational, criminals convicted for kidnapping and accessories to kidnap would forfeit their assets, funds and proceeds from kidnap.

He said, “I am happy to assent to this Anti-kidnapping bill as it will help the security agencies in their fight against kidnappers and their sponsors.”

On the Rivers State Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (Amendment) Law, 2015, Governor Wike said the renaming of the school became necessary because of the contributions of Saro-Wiwa to the development of the state.

Wike said that the third bill he assented to titled, ‘Rivers State Traditional Rulers Law No.4 of 2015’, was aimed at returning dignity and respect to the traditional institution.

The governor explained that there was no reason why the state traditional institution should be politicised.

Wike, however, commended the State House of Assembly for always putting the interest of the state first in its consideration of bills.

Presenting the three laws to the governor for assent, the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martins Amaehule, said the three laws were vital to the good governance of the state.