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edo state government under the
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leadership of Governor Mandre Obolo has
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explained and given wider clarifications
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to the new anti-kidnapping laws in the
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state with specifications that friend or
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family member of suspected kidnapper or
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any person suspected to have made an
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attempt to kidnap discovering such
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friend or family member to have hidden
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or provide a temporary stay or shelter
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to the criminal suspect with complete
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disregard to the level of innocency such
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a friend or family member may be found
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to be in connection with the crime The
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new laws stipulate 14 years imprisonment
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with no option of fine for such shelter
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provider or providers This the Edeto
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state government published the
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clarification a day after the government
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demolished a house of an elder sister of
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suspected kidnap gang member along
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college road at Aduawa area in Benin
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City simply because the suspect was
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living in the house According to the
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news reporters broadcasted by Ocella
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television with additional information
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that the elder sister of the suspect is
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not living in Nigeria she has been in
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abroad where she has been working and
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providing financial support to her
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younger brother who got himself into the
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crime of kidnapping business for a
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350,000 naira The Edeto state government
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while giving the clarification through
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the office of the press secretary to the
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governor in a news feature in which the
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chief press secretary Fred Iwa titled a
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step-by-step breakdown of new kidnapping
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prohibition law in Edo state said the
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new laws were with stringent principles
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to deter people from going into
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kidnapping and providing any form of aid
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to suspected kidnappers with a view to
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guarantee public safety and restore
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confidence in the law enforcement and
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judicial system in the state In his
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words the governor press secretary said
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in Edo state Governor Mandebolo and
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members of the state house of assembly
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are united in taking a firm stand
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against the escalating threat of
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kidnapping The Edeto state house of
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assembly has passed the kidnapping
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prohibition amendment law 2025
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This amended legislation marks a bold
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legislative milestone aimed at
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tightening the new song kidnappers their
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accompllices and enablers It reflects a
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sharpened resolve by the government to
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enhance public safety and restore
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confidence in law enforcement and
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judicial systems within the state Under
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this amended law the penalties for
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kidnapping have been significantly
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strengthened in what is considered one
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of the most stringent anti-kidnapping
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frameworks in the country The law
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prescribes the death penalty for anyone
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who is directly involved in the act of
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kidnapping where a life is lost For
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cases where victims survive the ordeal a
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convicted kidnapper now faces life
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imprisonment a stern departure from
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lighter sentences in previous enactments
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Furthermore the law introduces a minimum
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sentence of 21 years for anyone who aids
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abetss conspires or attempts to commit
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the offense of kidnapping reflecting the
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government's intention to criminalize
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not just the act itself but the entire
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chain of support behind it Another
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groundbreaking aspect of the amendment
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is the provision targeting those who
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provide shelter hideouts or logistical
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support to kidnappers Such individuals
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regardless of whether they directly
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participated in the crime are now liable
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to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment
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upon conviction This sweeping clause is
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designed to dismantle the ecosystem that
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enables the planning and execution of
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abductions closing loopholes that
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perpetrators have long exploited
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Moreover the law broadens the scope of
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what constitutes kidnapping It now
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includes compelling another person
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through threats or deceit into
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confinement regardless of the duration
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or nature of the detention This
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redefinition seeks to capture a wider
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array of tactics employed by criminals
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especially those that do not involve
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traditional hostage taking scenarios but
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still infringe on the liberty of
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individuals Notably the amendment also
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criminalizes the act of negotiating
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ransom Any individual who receives
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offers or facilitates the exchange of
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ransom payments whether a relative of
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the victim or otherwise is now at risk
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of prosecution The law aims to break the
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cycle of financial incentives that have
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fueled the persistence of the crime
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making it less lucrative for
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In the same vein the possession of
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property whether movable or immovable
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acquired through ransom proceeds is now
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a criminal offense subject to forfeite
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and other legal consequences The
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kidnapping prohibition amendment law
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2025 also includes clauses that ensure
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the protection of witnesses and victims
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during prosecution It mandates
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confidentiality for witnesses and
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safeguards them from potential reprisals
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This is an important provision given the
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fear and reluctance often associated
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with testifying against dangerous
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criminals and it signals a move towards
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a more victimsensitive justice system
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This new law comes in response to the
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growing calls from civil society
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security experts and the general public
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for tougher legislations to curb the
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surge in abductions which has not only
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threatened lives but has also hampered
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economic activities and shaken communal
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peace The Edeto state government's
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decision to adopt such comprehensive and
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tough measures sends a clear message
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that it will no longer tolerate acts of
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criminality that violate the sanctity of
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human freedom As the state implements
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the provisions of this law emphasis will
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be placed on training law enforcement
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offices sensitizing the judiciary and
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educating the public on the implications
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of the amendments This multi-pronged
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approach is necessary to ensure the
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law's effectiveness and to build a safer
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Edeto state where citizens can live
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without fear The governor press
6:06
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