Senate Declares Kidnapping an Act of Terrorism, Mandates Amendment to Impose Death Penalty on Convicted Offenders

In a landmark decision aimed at tackling the nation’s escalating insecurity crisis, the Nigerian Senate has adopted a resolution that declares kidnapping an act of terrorism and mandates an amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention) Act to impose the death penalty on all convicted kidnappers.

The resolution, which signals the legislature’s zero-tolerance approach to the crime, following an intense debate on the persistent wave of banditry and mass abductions across the North-Central and North-West regions. The decisive action followed a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States,” sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru. Senator Ashiru cited harrowing recent attacks, including the abduction of worshippers and the persistent kidnapping of schoolchildren, as proof that existing laws are insufficient to deter the criminal elements.

Under the proposed amendment, the Senate resolution specifically prescribes the maximum penalty death for anyone convicted of kidnapping, ensuring that once the conviction is established, judges will have no discretion to hand down a lesser sentence.

This legislative move effectively classifies the offense alongside high-level terrorism, significantly widening the legal net to potentially cover not only the abductors but also collaborators, financiers, and informants who provide material support to the criminal enterprise. In a parallel move to augment security efforts, the Senate also unanimously called on the Federal Government to immediately review the country’s firearm laws, proposing that responsible, vetted citizens be allowed to own guns to legally empower communities to defend themselves against the heavily armed terror groups exploiting porous forest corridors.