Nigeria’s Senate on Wednesday took a decisive step toward tightening the nation’s anti-kidnapping laws, as lawmakers pushed for the death penalty for kidnappers and anyone who finances, supports, or provides information to them. The move came during debate on proposed amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The amendment bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking, and related crimes as acts of terrorism — a shift that would grant security agencies expanded powers to track, disrupt, and prosecute criminal networks nationwide.
The debate dominated plenary, with contributions from Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and others. Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the session.
After extensive deliberations, the Senate unanimously passed the amendment bill for further legislative work and referred it to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters (lead committee), National Security and Intelligence, and Interior. The committees are expected to present their report within two weeks.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the bill aims to “designate kidnapping, hostage-taking and related offences as acts of terrorism and prescribe the death penalty for such offences without option of fine or alternative sentence.”
He warned that kidnapping had morphed into “coordinated, commercialised and militarised acts of violence,” causing widespread fear, crippling economic activities, disrupting schooling, bankrupting families through ransom payments, and overwhelming security forces.
According to him, the brutality associated with modern kidnapping “now carries all the characteristics of terrorism,” making a counter-terrorism approach both necessary and urgent.
The bill proposes the death penalty not only for kidnappers but also for their enablers — including informants, logistics handlers, harbourers, transporters, and anyone who knowingly assists or supports kidnapping operations. Attempts, conspiracy, or incitement to kidnap would attract the same punishment.
Supporting the amendments, Oshiomhole criticised deradicalisation programmes for terror suspects, arguing that many offenders return to crime afterwards. “No more deradicalisation,” he said. “If you are caught and convicted for acts of terrorism, then the penalty should be death.”
Kalu echoed the sentiment, insisting that those who sponsor or provide information to kidnappers must “face the consequence.”
Minority Leader Abba Moro described the bill as a unanimous decision of the Senate, saying capital punishment was necessary “with the hope that kidnappers will face the penalty.”
Senator Victor Umeh condemned the rising cases of abduction and the killing of victims even after ransom payments, calling for scrutiny of financial institutions that may be aiding such crimes.
The push for tougher measures follows last week’s debate triggered by the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others. Although all hostages were later rescued, lawmakers said the incident underscored the spread of insurgent cells into the South and worsening rural insecurity.
The concerns were raised through a motion by Senator Yisa Ashiru on escalating insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, amid rising school abductions that have forced closures across several states and all 47 Federal Unity Colleges.
The latest legislative push highlights growing alarm as kidnapping for ransom continues to devastate communities across Nigeria.
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