Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Nigerian Governor Supports Death Penalty for Kidnappers Joe DeCapua 10 June 2010 In Nigeria, the governor of the southeastern state of Abia says he intends to apply the death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery. Chief Theodore Orjiâs announcement comes amid a rise in insecurity in Abia and despite pleas from Amnesty International and other human rights groups to rescind his decision. The groups call the death penalty âextremeâ and are proposing a life in prison sentence instead. VOA reporter Chinedu Offor is on assignment in Nigeria. From Umuahia the capital of Abia State, he says, âThe law was passed by the State House of Assembly.  And a harsh penalty, according to government officials, became necessary because every measure taken to reduce or prevent kidnapping has thus far not worked.â A growing business The state government recently declared an amnesty for anyone who turned in their weapons, which are often used in kidnappings. âThat has not helped the situation any,â says Offor. He says kidnapping has practically become a business in Abia state, with ransoms as low as (US) $100 or $200 being demanded. âThe government says since everything else has failed, then itâs about time we treated this matter as aâ¦serious offense because of the wide implications of making the state ungovernable,â says Offor. Besides endangering the stateâs citizens, officials say the violence could drive away investors. The kidnappings in Abia State are believed directly related to the many abductions reported elsewhere in the oil-rich Niger Delta, as militants try to avoid the heavy military presence elsewhere in the region. âAbia is actually one of the Niger Delta States. It borders Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and it also borders Bayelsa (State),â he says, âThose are the key Niger Delta states, but Abia is also an oil producing state.â Offor says Chief Orji told him he has asked for reinforcement of both military and police. âHe says heâs going to win this battle and that already the presence of heavily armed security men is making a big difference in the state in terms of security.â The VOA reporter says Chief Orji âtold me that the first job of a governor is the security of lives and property. That is what he swore to uphold. He says he has tried the amnesty route; (he) has also tried meetings and reconciliation. That has not worked. He says itâs about time he deploys the full strength of the government to convince people that heâs really taking his job seriously.â No immediate executions The death penalty for kidnapping or armed robbery is not expected to take immediate effect. The judicial process for someone accused of the crimes could take several years to complete. And thereâs always the possibility the governor could commute the death sentence to life in prison. .