James Adamu
The National Assembly has called for a radical shift in the nation’s security strategy, demanding the death penalty for kidnappers and the public exposure of terrorism financiers.
The move, which includes a stark rejection of deradicalisation programmes for convicted terrorists, signals a legislative push towards the most stringent measures yet in the fight against rampant insecurity.
The bipartisan demand emerged from a marathon plenary session on Wednesday, where a palpable sense of urgency dominated debates in both chambers.
The Senate spearheaded the call for capital punishment through a proposed amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, seeking to officially classify kidnapping and hostage taking as acts of terrorism.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, framed the crisis in stark terms, arguing that kidnapping has evolved into “coordinated, commercialised and militarised acts of violence” that instil widespread fear and have crippled national economic activities.
“This is not a mere crime. It is terrorism in its purest form,” Bamidele stated, lamenting the interruption of children’s education and the bankruptcy of families forced to pay ransoms.
His proposed bill prescribes the death penalty not only for the perpetrators but extends it to “their informants, logistics providers, harbourers, transporters, and anyone who knowingly assists, facilitates, or supports kidnapping operations.”
The bill has been referred to relevant committees for further legislative work, with a report expected within two weeks.
The debate saw senior senators unite in an uncharacteristically hawkish consensus.
Former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole was particularly scathing in his dismissal of deradicalisation efforts, asserting that many offenders simply return to crime.
“We should not continue with deradicalisation programmes again,” Oshiomhole declared. “No more de-radicalisation. If you are caught and convicted for acts of terrorism, then the penalty should be death.”
His sentiment was echoed by Orji Uzor Kalu and Minority Leader Abba Moro, who described the bill as a unanimous Senate decision necessary to impose a ultimate deterrent.
Concurrently, the House of Representatives reached a parallel resolution, compelling the executive branch to publicly name, sanction, and prosecute the financiers of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
This formed part of a sweeping set of proposals derived from a dedicated national security debate. The House’s draft report, considered during a session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, outlined a comprehensive, if ambitious, security overhaul.
The resolutions advocate for terrorism related prosecutions to be “open, expeditious and transparent” and call for the establishment of a Special Court to handle such cases.
The lower chamber’s proposals extend beyond punitive measures into systemic reform. They include placing all security expenditure on ‘First Line Charge’ to guarantee predictable funding, a phased strengthening of cashless transactions to disrupt criminal finances, and the expedited establishment of state police through a constitutional amendment.
In another move, the House also addressed the contentious issue of VIP security, resolving that police protection should be reserved strictly for serving “national officers” such as governors and judicial officers, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive on the matter.
The legislative push comes against a backdrop of severe recent attacks, including the abduction of 26 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and a deadly assault on a church in Kwara State. It also unfolded as the Senate screened and confirmed a new Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.). Musa faced intense questioning over specific security lapses, notably the controversial withdrawal of troops from a Kebbi school just hours before the November kidnap incident.
He vowed to launch a full-scale investigation upon assuming office. “The Armed Forces have a way… we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities,” Musa assured the lawmakers, promising a review of all operations and stressing that no “act of insolence or cowardice” would be tolerated.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio underscored the immense pressure facing the government, revealing that even international figures were scrutinising Nigeria’s response. “This is not a period we should say bow and go. Even Donald Trump is on our neck,” Akpabio remarked during the screening, highlighting the global attention on the nation’s security crisis.
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