The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday resolved to amend Nigeria’s Anti-Terrorism Act to prescribe a death penalty without the option of a fine for all kidnapping offences.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the decision after a majority of senators supported the proposal through a voice vote during plenary.
Similarly, the Senate called on the Federal Government to review the country’s firearm laws to allow responsible citizens to own guns, citing escalating insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states.
The resolution on Anti-Terrorism Act followed an additional prayer moved by Abdul Ningi, (PDP, Bauchi Central) during a debate on rising cases of kidnapping in the country.
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Mr Ningi urged the Senate to mandate its Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to draft an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act that would classify kidnapping as a terrorist offence and automatically attract the death penalty, irrespective of circumstances or jurisdiction.
The motion was seconded by Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), who argued that the amendment should be in a way that removes all judicial discretion in sentencing.
“Appropriate legal system that the offence of kidnapping should carry death penalty for which no judge should have power of any discretion to laws by parliament in this case because the issue is serious,” he said.
Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, also called on state governors to be willing to sign death warrants.
“If you indulge me, I’ll also urge the governors to have the courage to uphold the letter of the constitution. Governors should proceed to sign the appropriate death sentences. That is why I signed the death penalty when I was a governor. Some other governors refused to sign,” the senator added.
Endorsing the proposal, Mr Akpabio said the Senate’s position was that once kidnapping is established in court, a death sentence must follow.
“A very serious additional amendment has been made that the penalty for kidnapping should be changed immediately to carry the maximum punishment of death.
This has also been seconded that henceforth, kidnapping should first be classified as a terrorist act and which should carry death penalty. It is not up to any judge. Once the offence of kidnapping is established, a death penalty must follow. There’s no discretion as to what type of punishment should be given. The judiciary should adhere,” he said.
The senate president subsequently put the motion to vote and it was approved by the majority.
He then directed the senate leader to urgently prepare an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act to classify kidnapping as terrorism and make the offence punishable by death without the option of a fine or judicial discretion.
“In line with the provisions of the Terrorist Act, the offence of kidnapping henceforth should carry death penalty. The leader of the Senate should bring an amendment of the Act to ensure that the offence of kidnapping becomes a Terrorist Act and which ca⁰rries a death sentence without any option of fine and without discretion on the part of the judiciary.
“Leader of the Senate, in the shortest number of days, please bring an amendment that Nigeria will henceforth classify kidnapping as a Terrorist Act and also classify kidnapping being a terrorist act should now carry death sentence without option of fine,” he directed.
Nigeria’s Anti-Terrorism Act prescribes a death penalty for kidnapping when the offence results in the death of a victim. Where no death occurs, other penalties apply depending on the circumstances, including life imprisonment for offences such as hostage-taking and kidnapping.
The Act also criminalises the payment of ransom, prescribing a minimum sentence of 15 years for anyone who pays ransom to secure a victim’s release.
Kidnapping and ransom-taking have become increasingly rampant across the country, with terrorist groups turning the crime into a lucrative enterprise.
Earlier during the debate, Plateau Central Senator, Diket Plang, noted that terrorists rely heavily on ransom payments as a major source of funding, which they use to purchase arms and sustain their operations.
However, despite the frequency of attacks, many kidnapping cases end with the release of victims but without any arrests.
For instance, the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, were freed on Tuesday after security intervention, but none of the abductors was apprehended.
Also, 38 worshippers of a church in Eruku, Kwara State, were rescued last Sunday, but none of their abductors was arrested.
Senate Calls for responsible citizens to carry guns
The call for responsible citizens to carry guns followed a motion titled “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States,” sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South).
The motion highlighted recent attacks on schools, worship centres, and rural communities, including the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 others abducted.
Senators urged immediate federal action to curb rising banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes, warning that mass school abductions and persistent raids have forced closures of schools, including all 47 unity schools nationwide, disrupting education for thousands of children
The Upper Chamber commended President Bola Tinubu for cancelling foreign trips to coordinate security responses, which facilitated the release of 38 abductees in Kwara and 51 students in Niger State.
Lawmakers also called on communities in affected states and across Nigeria to remain vigilant, united, and supportive of security agencies while resisting internal collaborators undermining national safety.
Senators emphasized that Nigeria’s firearm laws should reflect current security challenges, noting that over 175 countries allow responsible citizens to legally own guns.
The Nigerian Senate has approved a landmark resolution classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism, urging an amendment of the Terrorism Act to impose the harshest possible punishment on offenders.
The decision was reached during Wednesday’s plenary session, where lawmakers unanimously agreed that any individual convicted of kidnapping should face the death penalty once the revised law takes effect.
According to the Senate, the resolution is a direct response to the alarming spike in abductions nationwide and the urgent need to strengthen deterrent measures.
“The resolution mandates that, upon conviction for kidnapping, the death penalty must be enforced,” the Senate declared.
Lawmakers stressed that the move is intended to send a strong message to criminal elements and help curb the growing menace.
