In response to growing security challenges across the country, the Nigerian Senate has stepped up moves to restore internal peace, order and stability by proposing tougher laws against kidnapping, hostage-taking and related crimes. The Senate is now working on new legal frameworks that will classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism and prescribe the death penalty for kidnappers, their financiers, informants and other collaborators.
The renewed push came after the recent wave of kidnapping incidents in Maga in Kebbi State, Papiri in Niger State and Eruku in Kwara State, which led to the abduction of about 313 people, including nearly 250 schoolgirls. Although some of the victims have regained their freedom, the incidents triggered strong reactions within the National Assembly and forced lawmakers to search for lasting solutions to the rising insecurity across the federation.
The Senate’s efforts are also linked to its constitutional responsibility to make and amend laws that will empower security agencies to operate more effectively within a clear legal framework. Lawmakers believe that stronger laws will give law enforcement agencies the legal backing needed to confront criminal networks and restore public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
As part of immediate measures, the Senate dissolved its Committees on Air Force and on National Security and Intelligence. The decision, according to Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, was based on the perceived ineffectiveness of the committees in carrying out their oversight responsibilities. The decision received unanimous support across party lines, reflecting the seriousness with which the Senate views the current security situation.
The Senate also directed its Committees on Army, Navy, Defence, Interior and Police Affairs to submit detailed reports within two weeks. These reports are expected to highlight steps taken so far to address insecurity and explain why the committees should not be dissolved and reconstituted. Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, subjected the directive to a voice vote, and it was adopted unanimously.
In another urgent move, the Senate fast-tracked the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa. The request was taken and handled on the same day it was read at plenary, with lawmakers explaining that the urgency was necessary to sustain the fight against enemies of the state and prevent further deterioration of the security situation.
Beyond these actions, the Senate introduced a bill seeking to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The amendment bill was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and received broad support from senators across all geopolitical zones.
According to Bamidele, the bill is designed to close gaps in existing counter-terrorism laws and strengthen Nigeria’s legal response to violent crimes. One of its central proposals is to officially designate kidnapping and hostage-taking as acts of terrorism, which would give security agencies wider operational authority, intelligence powers and stronger prosecutorial tools.
The bill also proposes the introduction of the death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping or hostage-taking. Beyond the main perpetrators, the proposed law extends the same punishment to financiers, informants, logistics providers, harbourers, transporters and anyone who knowingly supports or facilitates kidnapping operations. Lawmakers believe this would serve as a strong deterrent and weaken criminal networks across the country.
The proposed law would allow law enforcement agencies to use terror financing laws, asset tracing and forfeiture, intelligence-led operations, and stronger inter-agency coordination to dismantle kidnapping syndicates. It would also enable quicker pre-trial procedures and help to disrupt funding and logistics chains that sustain criminal activities.
During the debate, several senators raised concerns about the effectiveness of the federal government’s deradicalisation programme. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, questioned the policy, arguing that it had failed to stop extremists and criminals from returning to violence after being released. He warned against what he described as a system that allows perpetrators to escape justice under the guise of reintegration.
Supporting this view, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, spoke about the suffering of victims across different regions and urged the Senate to adopt maximum penalties. Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, also supported the bill and called for swift passage to create a legal regime that prioritises consequences over pardon.
After extensive debate, the Senate passed the bill into second reading unanimously and referred it to relevant committees for further work. The Senate also directed the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), to lead the public hearing process and report back within two weeks, in collaboration with the Committees on Interior and National Security and Intelligence.
The Senate maintained that these steps are necessary to protect citizens, strengthen national security and restore public confidence in the government’s ability to tackle kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes across Nigeria.
