The National Assembly has proposed far-reaching measures to combat terrorism and banditry, including the imposition of the death penalty on convicted kidnappers, their financiers and informants.
The Senate adopted the hardline position on Wednesday after debating a bill to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with the aim of classifying kidnapping, hostage-taking and related crimes as acts of terrorism.
Sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the amendment would also expand the operational and intelligence powers of security agencies to dismantle kidnapping networks across the country.
Bamidele said the reforms were necessary to confront a criminal enterprise that had evolved beyond sporadic attacks into “coordinated, commercialised and militarised acts of violence” perpetrated by organised groups.
He warned that kidnapping had devastated communities, crippled local economies, halted schooling and bankrupted families forced to pay ransoms.
Under the proposed law, the death penalty would apply not only to perpetrators but also to financiers, informants, logistics suppliers, harbourers and anyone who knowingly provides support.
In addition, attempts, conspiracy or incitement to kidnap would attract the same punishment.
Senators from across party lines like Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, argued that deradicalisation programmes had failed and should no longer substitute for prosecution.
Also, Orji Uzor Kalu said informants and sponsors must face identical consequences as kidnappers, while Minority Leader Abba Moro urged swift passage of the bill to crush what he described as a lucrative criminal enterprise.
Senator Victor Umeh called for the law to extend to collaborators, including financial institutions that facilitate ransom transfers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, National Security and Intelligence, and Interior, mandating them to report back within two weeks.
Across the hallway, the House of Representatives also pushed for key security reforms, recommending that all security funding be placed on a ‘First Line Charge’ to ensure predictable financing.
The House demanded full disbursement of approved security budgets and proposed that financiers of terrorism and kidnapping be publicly named, sanctioned and prosecuted.
Lawmakers urged a nationwide strengthening of cashless payment systems to curb ransom transactions, calling for upgraded digital banking infrastructure, enhanced monitoring tools and tighter collaboration between financial institutions and security agencies.
They also demanded improved security at schools, worship centres, markets and other soft targets, as well as a national surveillance grid integrating public CCTV systems.
Moreover, the House recommended the creation of a special court for terrorism and banditry, stricter penalties for arms trafficking, reduced deployment of security personnel for VIP protection and stronger intelligence gathering at community level.
During its plenary, the House condemned the killing of three Immigration officers by armed attackers at an outpost in Bakin Ruwa, Kebbi State, on 27 November.
Moving the motion, Bello Ka’oje said repeated assaults on security formations in Bagudo and Suru local councils reflected a coordinated effort by bandits to entrench themselves close to Nigeria’s border with Benin Republic.
The day also saw the Senate confirm former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence.
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