The Senate has taken a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s legal response to violent crime as a bill proposing the death penalty for kidnapping and hostage taking scaled its second reading on Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to classify kidnapping and related offences as acts of terrorism. If passed, the law would make capital punishment the compulsory sentence for offenders, with no option for fines or reduced penalties.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the proposal reflects the Senate’s resolve to support the Federal Government in tackling the country’s escalating security challenges. He reminded lawmakers that at a closed-door meeting held three weeks earlier, the Senate had agreed to develop a stronger legal framework to confront the surge in abductions across Nigeria.
He described kidnapping as one of the most rampant and commercialised criminal activities in the country, noting that it continues to instill fear in communities, disrupt schooling and impose heavy emotional and economic burdens on victims and their families.
The amendment seeks to formally define kidnapping and hostage taking as terrorist offences under Nigerian law.
Several senators who spoke in support of the bill said a death sentence would send a strong deterrent message to criminal networks responsible for the growing menace. They also pointed out that submissions made during the bill’s public hearing highlighted the need for strict sanctions against financial institutions that enable ransom-related transactions.
Some lawmakers further argued for an end to amnesty programmes for terrorists, insisting that such gestures weaken national security and embolden perpetrators.
The bill has been referred to the joint committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior and National Intelligence. The committees are expected to conduct further scrutiny and submit their report within two weeks.