In a move to combat the nation’s escalating security crisis, the Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring kidnapping as an act of terrorism and mandating an amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention) Act to impose the death penalty on all convicted kidnappers.
The resolution follows the persistent wave of banditry, mass abductions, and violent crimes, particularly across the North-Central and North-West regions.
Death Penalty Mandated for Kidnappers
The Senate resolution specifically prescribes the maximum penalty—death—for anyone convicted of kidnapping or other acts legally classified as terrorism under the proposed amendment.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, Call for Immediate and Comprehensive Federal Intervention,” was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South).
Senator Ashiru cited several harrowing attacks, including the recent abduction of 38 worshippers from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State (on November 18, 2025), and the persistent kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger States.
Under the proposal, the amendment will ensure that once a court establishes a kidnapping conviction, the maximum penalty must be applied, effectively classifying the offense alongside high-level terrorism.
School Closures and Humanitarian Warning
Lawmakers expressed alarm over the humanitarian and educational toll of the insecurity:
- Educational Disruption: The Senate noted that the Eruku attack alone triggered the shutdown of schools across five local government areas in Kwara, as well as in parts of Kebbi and Niger States. Furthermore, all 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide were closed, disrupting the education of thousands of children.
- Internal Sabotage Concerns: The Chamber called for a transparent investigation into reports suggesting that military personnel were withdrawn from a Kebbi school just hours before bandits struck, raising “grave questions” about potential security lapses and internal collaboration.
- Regional Spread: The debate highlighted the spiraling insecurity, noting that Kwara South alone has recorded over 40 abductions in the last 18 months and that criminal activities are spreading into neighbouring states like Osun.
Call to Review Firearm Laws
In a further decisive move, the Senate unanimously called on the Federal Government to immediately review the country’s firearm laws to allow responsible, vetted citizens to own guns.
Lawmakers argued that the unprecedented surge in banditry and kidnappings has overwhelmed federal security capacity, making it necessary for communities to be legally empowered to defend themselves against armed terror groups.
The call for a review is seen as a necessary measure to augment security efforts in vulnerable, rural communities where bandits and kidnappers exploit porous forest corridors, such as the Kwara–Kogi axis and the Kebbi–Zamfara route.
Next Steps
To ensure swift action, the Senate resolved to:
- Launch investigative hearings into the security lapses within two weeks.
- Demand a comprehensive security action plan from the Executive within one week.
- Seek an urgent meeting with President Bola Tinubu to convey the gravity of the security situation and the need for immediate federal intervention.
