Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has disclosed that his administration has forwarded an executive bill to the State House of Assembly seeking to make kidnapping a capital offence punishable by death without an option of an alternative sentence.
The governor made this known during the funeral of the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike autonomous community in Ikwo Local Government Area, HRH Eze Francis Igwe, who was abducted and murdered by suspected kidnappers in March 2026.
The monarch was reportedly kidnapped on March 1 while travelling to church and killed the following day. He was the father of former Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Eric Igwe.
Nwifuru condemned the killing and vowed to implement any court judgment against those found guilty of the crime. He said the proposed legislation was intended to discourage kidnapping and abduction across the state.
The governor also expressed concern about the conduct of some young people, urging them to respect traditional institutions and community leaders.
He warned that the murder of the monarch should be the last such incident in Ikwo and other parts of Ebonyi State.
Meanwhile, former governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi, alongside former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, paid tribute to the deceased, describing him as a statesman, peacemaker, educationist and community leader.
The proposed bill is expected to undergo legislative consideration before it can become law.
