Actor Williams Uchemba Calls for Public Execution of Convicted Kidnappers

Nollywood actor and humanitarian, Williams Uchemba, has urged the Federal Government to begin public executions for convicted kidnappers, saying visible and decisive punishment remains the only effective deterrent against Nigeria’s rising wave of abductions.

The actor made the call in a video shared on his Instagram page, where he expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s failure to enforce existing capital punishment laws for serious crimes such as kidnapping.

According to Uchemba, the country’s weak justice enforcement system has emboldened criminal elements who now operate with increasing impunity.

“The capital punishment for kidnapping is death, yet when offenders are arrested, we hardly hear what happens afterwards,” he lamented.

Uchemba argued that if the government wants to send a clear message, there should be publicly televised executions to show that the law is being enforced.

“If you ask me, there should even be a dedicated TV channel showing the arrest and public execution of convicted kidnappers,” he said.

“Until real consequences are enforced, nothing will change.”

The actor referenced China’s criminal justice system, where crimes such as kidnapping and corruption attract the death penalty, noting that the Asian country’s strict enforcement of laws has helped reduce crime rates.

“Look at China. The capital punishment for kidnapping is death, and they don’t hesitate to carry it out. That’s why crime rates there are so low,” Uchemba said.

He argued that Nigeria’s criminal justice system must evolve to include transparent enforcement of laws that discourage criminal behaviour.

Uchemba’s comments come amid growing public anxiety over rising kidnapping cases across the country, particularly as the festive season approaches, a period often associated with heightened criminal activity.

He insisted that firm and public enforcement of justice would help restore citizens’ confidence in the system and dissuade others from engaging in crime.

“Until the government shows that there are real and visible consequences for these acts, people will keep doing whatever they like,” he said.

Uchemba’s remarks have since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians echoing his frustration and calling for tougher anti-kidnapping measures.

Others, however, have warned against state-sanctioned executions, urging authorities instead to strengthen policing, intelligence, and judicial reforms.

Despite the debate, Uchemba maintained that decisive punishment, not sympathy or negotiation, remains the only lasting solution to Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic.