The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step against insecurity by adopting a resolution to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism, calling for urgent amendments to the Terrorism Act that would allow the severest penalties for offenders.
The resolution was reached during Wednesday’s plenary session, where lawmakers unanimously agreed that anyone found guilty of kidnapping should face capital punishment once the law is amended and enacted.
According to the Senate, the move has become unavoidable due to the rising cases of abductions across the country, which have plunged many communities into fear and disrupted normal living in both urban and rural areas.
Lawmakers maintained that stronger legislation is needed to deter criminals and restore public confidence in the nation’s security framework.
In a strongly worded declaration, the Senate stated: “Upon conviction for kidnapping, the death penalty must be enforced,” signaling a no-tolerance stance against the crime.
Several senators also stressed that kidnapping has evolved from being a criminal offence into an organised network of terror, often involving armed groups that operate across state lines and target vulnerable citizens for ransom.
They added that reclassifying the crime as terrorism would empower security agencies with broader legal backing to track, arrest and prosecute suspects more effectively.
The Senate further noted that the proposed amendment is not only punitive but also serves as a warning to criminal elements that the government will no longer treat kidnapping lightly.
Nigerians are now awaiting the formal amendment of the Terrorism Act, which will legally define kidnapping as terrorism and officially enforce the death penalty for those convicted.
Human rights groups and legal analysts are also closely observing the development, with expectations of robust public debate on the application and implications of the proposed punishment.
For many citizens affected by kidnapping, the resolution offers a sense of hope that stronger laws may finally curb a crime that has brought pain, loss and fear to countless families nationwide.