NIGERIA: Uchemba Advocates Public Execution For Kidnappers To Deter Crime

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Nollywood actor Williams Uchemba has called for the public execution of convicted kidnappers in Nigeria, arguing that such drastic measures would help curb the growing menace of abduction across the country.

Speaking in a video shared on his Instagram page, Uchemba said the Nigerian government must begin to enforce the death penalty for kidnapping, as prescribed by the nation’s constitution, to serve as a deterrent.

He said: “We have a constitution that governs this country, and I do not see why when it is time to execute that constitution, we are not as vocal as we should be. The capital punishment for kidnapping is death. Some of these kidnappers are caught, but we don’t hear anything about whether they are being imprisoned or executed.”

Drawing an analogy with parenting, the actor likened the government’s leniency towards criminals to a parent failing to discipline a child.

The Nollywood actor explained: “When a child begins to steal meat from the mother’s pot and the mother does very little in terms of punishment, she is breeding a hardened criminal that will eventually destroy her own life.”

Uchemba went further to suggest that the government could even create a dedicated television channel for airing such executions, similar to the format of Big Brother Naija, to publicly demonstrate the consequences of crime.

“Until we start executing consequences to certain actions, we cannot see the results,” he stated.

Referencing other nations, he praised China’s approach to capital punishment, saying, “We want to be like China, but we do not have the balls that China has. The punishment for kidnapping and corruption in China is death.”

His comments come amid a surge in kidnapping incidents nationwide, sparking renewed public debate about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s justice system.

Uchemba urged both citizens and government officials to take a firmer stance against crime, especially with fears of increased insecurity ahead of the yuletide season.