Senate Moves to Redefine Kidnapping as Terrorism Amid Rising Attacks
By: NaijaEnquirer Staff
The Senate has begun the process of overhauling Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework, introducing an amendment bill aimed at tightening the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, passed first reading on Thursday,just a day after lawmakers agreed that kidnapping should be classified as an act of terrorism punishable by death.
The proposed amendment represents one of the most far-reaching legislative responses to insecurity in recent years. Lawmakers argue that despite Nigeria’s extensive legal regime, violent crimes such as mass abductions, rural banditry, and school attacks continue to escalate. Nationwide incidents have intensified calls for harsher penalties and a stronger national security strategy.
A Legislative Push Driven by Deadly Attacks on Schools
The Senate also set up an 18-member ad hoc committee to investigate the implementation of the Safe School Initiative. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will chair the committee, with members drawn from key committees on defence, education, and security oversight.
This move follows renewed concerns about the utilisation of funds allocated for school protection. Public outrage grew after an attack on Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, where armed men killed the vice principal and abducted 25 students.
Just days earlier, bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, kidnapping more than 300 pupils and staff. Similar attacks in Kwara, Kano, and Borno States have deepened public frustration and raised doubts about the effectiveness of existing security policies.
The committee has been mandated to report back within four weeks. Supplementary prayers from Senator Adams Oshiomhole expanded the scope of the investigation to include all past appropriations and expenditures tied to school safety.
Tinubu Declares Security Emergency, Orders Major Deployments
The Senate’s move comes alongside President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency. On Wednesday, Tinubu announced fresh recruitment into the armed forces and police, and approved the temporary use of NYSC camps as training facilities.
He also directed the withdrawal of thousands of officers from VIP escort duties for “crash retraining,” with the goal of redeploying them to communities facing persistent attacks. In a significant shift, the President authorised the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately deploy trained forest guards to flush out armed groups in remote forests.
Tinubu’s measures highlight the urgency of confronting worsening insecurity and the mounting pressure on federal institutions to deliver effective solutions.
Nigeria’s Terrorism Law: Strong on Paper, Weak in Enforcement
Nigeria operates one of the most detailed anti-terrorism legal frameworks in Africa. The Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011—amended in 2013—and the more recent 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act form the backbone of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy.
The 2022 Act expanded surveillance capabilities, strengthened asset seizure provisions, enhanced foreign intelligence cooperation, and established the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to coordinate national efforts.
Despite these provisions, enforcement remains inadequate. Convictions are low; inter-agency rivalry persists; and prosecution delays weaken deterrence. Lawmakers say redefining kidnapping as terrorism reflects frustration that existing laws, though robust, have not curbed widespread abductions.
Global Context: How Other Countries Treat Terrorism
Nigeria’s new legislative push aligns with global trends in modern counter-terrorism laws:
- United Kingdom: Proscription powers and life sentences for terrorism offences under the Terrorism Acts.
- United States: The Patriot Act and FISA laws focus on deep surveillance and intelligence coordination.
- European Union: Directive 2017/541 addresses radicalisation, cyber-extremism, and cross-border attacks.
- Middle East: Saudi Arabia and UAE enforce sweeping anti-terror laws, often criticised for overreach.
- Africa: Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia have tightened laws in response to militant threats.
Nations worldwide are expanding their definitions of terrorism to include cyber threats, online radicalisation, encrypted communication, and terror financing. Nigeria’s move to redefine kidnapping fits within this global shift.
A Country at a Turning Point
With mass abductions destabilising communities, the Senate’s amendment process signals a more aggressive legislative stance. If passed, the new law will place kidnappers in the same category as terrorists and expose them to the most severe penalties, including death.
The coming weeks will be decisive. Findings from the Senate committee on the Safe School Initiative, combined with new national security deployments, will determine whether Nigeria can mount an effective, coordinated response to a crisis that has stretched the nation’s resilience for more than a decade.
