Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo says he will sign death warrants for anyone convicted of kidnapping that leads to a victim’s death, and that this would apply even if the person is his own father. Premium Times, The Punch, Nigerian Eye and Vanguard all foreground his pledge and his stated willingness to personally supervise executions.
The outlets place the remarks in the context of Edo’s broader anti-kidnapping approach. Nigerian Eye adds detail that the state’s Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025 provides for the death penalty where kidnapping results in death and life imprisonment where victims survive. It also says Edo implements the law, references a special court arrangement, and mentions a past death sentence in 2026. Other outlets focus more tightly on the governor’s vow.
Across the coverage, the emphasis is consistent: no exemptions for relatives and a firm commitment to carry out the death-warrant process for qualifying convictions. Differences mainly concern additional legal and operational background, which Nigerian Eye includes but the others do not.
