The Nigerian Senate has passed amendments to the 2022 Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, expanding the death penalty to include all individuals involved in kidnapping. This includes perpetrators, financiers, informants, and anyone who knowingly aids in criminal abductions. The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, aims to categorize kidnapping and hostage-taking as terrorism nationwide, granting security agencies broader powers to investigate and disrupt illicit activities.
The amendment received bipartisan support during a plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with lawmakers emphasizing the need to address Nigeria’s deepening kidnapping crisis. Akpabio referred the bill to several committees, including Judiciary, Human Rights, and National Security, with a mandate to conduct a public hearing and report back within two weeks.
Proponents of the bill argue that kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a coordinated and commercialized form of violence, mirroring terrorism in its organization and brutality. Senator Bamidele stated that the amendment targets only violent offenders and their networks, not innocent communities, and that prosecutions will comply with constitutional safeguards.
Other lawmakers, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, expressed support for the bill, citing the need for harsher penalties to deter kidnappers. Senator Victor Umeh called for scrutiny of financial institutions that facilitate ransom payments, suggesting that banks and individuals involved in such transactions should be held liable.
The amendment is part of a broader effort to address Nigeria’s security challenges, including the launch of an investigation into the Safe School Initiative, which has failed to protect schoolchildren from attacks and abductions. The Senate has also vowed to track money spent on the initiative and expose gaps in funding, implementation, and security deployment.
In a related development, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the Nigeria Police, stating that the force is evolving into a disciplined, fit, and community-centered organization. Egbetokun emphasized the importance of sports in shaping the police force and expressed appreciation for the hosting of the 15th Nigeria Police Games in Asaba, Delta State.