An Islamic cleric, AbdulRauf Lagbaji, has called on the federal and state governments to enforce the death penalty against convicted bandits and kidnappers.
Gatekeepers News reports that he argued that severe punishment is necessary to curb Nigeria’s worsening insecurity. He made the call while delivering a lecture at an Ashura Day event organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) in Ondo State.
Lagbaji, who is the founder of the At-Tanzil Foundation, said Islamic teachings support capital punishment for individuals found guilty of intentional murder. He maintained that authorities should stop considering rehabilitation or reintegration programmes for bandits and kidnappers, warning that such measures could embolden criminals rather than reform them.
The cleric also urged the federal government to amend relevant laws to allow the immediate execution of convicted kidnappers. He specifically called on the Ondo State government to ensure that those convicted in connection with the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo face the full weight of the law.
According to him, the government must send a strong message that violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry and murder will attract the highest penalties. He further appealed to legal practitioners to refrain from defending individuals accused of banditry and kidnapping.
His remarks come amid continued concerns over insecurity across several parts of Nigeria, where authorities have intensified efforts to combat banditry, terrorism and kidnapping-for-ransom.
