The Senate on Wednesday took a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-kidnapping laws by advancing an amendment that would classify kidnapping, hostage-taking and related offences as terrorism and impose the death penalty on offenders and their enablers.
The proposal, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to amend the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to give security agencies expanded powers to track, disrupt and prosecute kidnapping networks.
The debate dominated plenary, which was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and drew strong support from Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu, Minority Leader Abba Moro and others.
The Senate unanimously passed the amendment for second reading and referred it to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; National Security and Intelligence; and Interior, with a directive to report back within two weeks.
Leading debate, Bamidele warned that kidnapping had evolved into “coordinated, commercialised and militarised acts of violence perpetrated by organised criminal groups.”
He said the crime had “instilled widespread fear in communities; undermined national economic activities and agricultural output; interrupted children’s education; bankrupted families forced to pay ransom; overstretched our security forces, and claimed countless innocent lives.”
“This is not a mere crime. It is terrorism in its purest form,” he said.
Bamidele added that the amendments would empower security agencies with “broader operational authority, intelligence capabilities, and prosecutorial tools,” while prescribing the death penalty not only for kidnappers but also “their informants, logistics providers, harbourers, transporters, and anyone who knowingly assists, facilitates, or supports kidnapping operations,” stressing that “attempt, conspiracy or incitement to kidnap attracts the same penalty.”
Oshiomhole criticised deradicalisation programmes, insisting that “if you are caught and convicted for acts of terrorism, then the penalty should be death.” Kalu said sponsors and informants must “face the consequence,” while Moro described the bill as a unanimous decision of the Senate.
The amendment signals a tougher legislative response as kidnapping-for-ransom continues to devastate communities nationwide.
