The Governor of Kebbi State, Northwestern Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has signed five bills passed by the State House of Assembly.
Among the laws, there are two laws that provide for severe penalties for the crime of kidnapping for ransom and the crime of rape.
Ramatu Adamu Gul-ma, the commissioner of justice and attorney general of the Kebbi state government, told the BBC that in the past, under the Penal Code, the kidnappers had been convicted for seven years but now " change is aggravated by the prevalence. "
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According to her, the state government has approved a life sentence for anyone found guilty of rape as the problem of rape continues to escalate.
She said the tightening of the law would make those interested in committing such crimes reluctant to see the crime increase by 50 per cent.
"People would not have known what a hostage-taker was. You would have arrested a person and tortured him until he was given a chicken, but now it is becoming more common." said Ramatu Adamu Gul-ma.
Kidnappings in northwestern Nigeria appear to be on the rise.
But the rise in rape can be said to be nationwide, which in Rahmatu Gulma's view with such punishments could put an end to both problems.
