A bill seeking to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking and related offenses as acts of terrorism has passed second reading in the Senate.
Sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the proposed amendment prescribes the death penalty, without the option of a fine or alternative sentence for anyone convicted of such crimes.
Bamidele said the bill aligns with the Senate’s recent resolve to collaborate with the Federal Government in finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. He recalled that three weeks earlier, during an executive session, the upper chamber agreed to develop a more robust legal framework to address the growing menace of kidnapping nationwide.
While presenting the bill, the Senate Leader described kidnapping as one of the most pervasive and highly commercialized forms of violence perpetrated by criminal groups. He warned that the crime has instilled widespread fear, destabilized communities, and severely disrupted education, especially for children.
The amendment seeks to formally designate kidnapping and hostage-taking as acts of terrorism under Nigerian law. Lawmakers argue that introducing the death penalty is intended to serve as a strong deterrent.
During deliberations, senators also stressed that appropriate sanctions should be imposed on financial institutions found to be facilitating transactions linked to kidnappers. Some lawmakers further advocated an end to the practice of granting amnesty to identified terrorists.
The bill has been referred to the joint committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior, and National Intelligence, with a mandate to report back within two weeks.
