The Imo State House of Assembly on Monday in Owerri passed a bill into law prohibiting hostage-taking and other related offences.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, when signed into law by the state governor, it will be cited as the "Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law.''

It said, "Any person who abducts another persons or takes another person hostage or keeps another person hostage for demand of ransom will be guilty of an offence and sentenced to death on conviction.''

The bill was sponsored by Mrs Oyibo Nwaneri, representing Oru East state constituency and supported by 16 members.

The members unanimously passed the bill.

According to the Speaker of the House, Mr Goodluck Opiah, the bill sought to bring about a safer Imo State.

He said it would also uplift the socio-economic activities in the state by prohibiting people from committing the offence of hostage taking and other related offences.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has expressed concern that in spite of efforts by the government to curtail the activities of criminals, kidnapping had defied solution.

Orji, who bemoaned the rate of crime in the state, said that while attacks on bullion vans had abated, kidnapping was on the increase.

The governor spoke while receiving a donation of three security vans from Zenith Bank Plc on Wednesday in Umuahia.

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