Senate calls for death penalty following declaration of kidnappings as terrorism

On Wednesday, the Senate officially designated kidnapping as a form of terrorism and proposed the death penalty for those found guilty. This decision comes in the wake of the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, where two worshippers lost their lives and 38 others were abducted.

Lawmakers expressed their concerns over the rising insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states, which has led to widespread school closures, including all 47 Federal Unity Colleges. They have called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of troops from a school in Kebbi prior to the attack, as well as the killing of Brigadier-General Uba linked to potential intelligence failures.

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Senators highlighted that internal accomplices, compromised intelligence, and the encroachment of bandits in forest areas like the Kwara–Kogi corridor and the Shiroro–Rafi–Munya regions are contributing to the increasing violence. They also pointed out Nigeria’s inadequate security personnel relative to nations with similar populations.

In a significant move, the Senate disbanded its Committees on National Security & Intelligence and on Air Force, instructing other security committees to provide reports within a week. Legislators endorsed international collaborations for sharing intelligence, surveillance technology, and counter-terrorism training.

Additionally, they praised President Bola Tinubu for his efforts in coordinating the rescue of 51 kidnapped students from Niger as well as all 38 victims from Kwara.