Nollywood actor and humanitarian, Williams Uchemba, has called on the Nigerian government to implement public executions for convicted kidnappers, arguing that visible punishment remains the strongest deterrent against the country’s growing kidnapping crisis.
In a video posted on his Instagram page, Uchemba expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s failure to enforce existing capital punishment laws, despite the alarming rise in abductions across several states.
He said the absence of strict and transparent consequences for such crimes emboldens offenders and erodes public trust in the justice system.
Citing China as an example, Uchemba noted that the Asian country maintains the death penalty for severe crimes like kidnapping and corruption, a stance he believes has helped to sustain its low crime rate.
“The punishment for kidnapping in Nigeria is death, yet when offenders are arrested, we rarely hear what happens afterward,” Uchemba lamented.
“If you ask me, there should even be a TV channel showing the arrest and public execution of convicted kidnappers. Until real consequences are enforced, nothing will change.”
His remarks come amid renewed concerns over spikes in kidnapping cases, particularly as the festive season approaches, a period often associated with increased criminal activity.
The actor urged security agencies and the judiciary to act decisively, insisting that firm and public enforcement of justice would help deter future crimes and restore citizens’ confidence in government institutions.
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