By Titilope Adako
Nigeria – The Senate on Wednesday ruled that kidnapping now amounts to terrorism and recommended the death penalty for anyone convicted, removing the option of fines or judicial discretion to reduce sentences.
The resolution followed a heated debate triggered by the 18 November attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others, all of whom have been rescued.
Lawmakers said the incident showed the alarming southward spread of insurgent cells and the worsening collapse of security in rural communities.
The decisions stemmed from a motion by Senator Yisa Ashiru of Kwara South, which raised fresh concerns about rising attacks on schools, worship centres, highways and entire communities.
Senators noted that repeated abductions had forced the shutdown of all schools in some local governments across Kebbi and Niger states, five LGAs in Kwara, and all 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
Senator Issa Jibrin from Kogi East warned that Nigeria’s security manpower was dangerously inadequate, stressing that the entire military, police and paramilitary workforce “does not total one million,” compared to Egypt’s 1.5 million.
He called for immediate upgrades in equipment, better intelligence sharing and the creation of a national reserve force to support overstretched troops.
Other senators raised concern that banditry was creeping towards Osun through Ekiti-linked communities around Eruku, Isapa and Koro, where both a retired Army General and a traditional ruler were recently killed.
Lawmakers also blamed insecurity on bad roads that allow criminals to escape easily and directed the Ministry of Works to commence urgent repairs on the Idofian–Omu-Aran–Eruku–Egbe–Kabba corridor.
With rising brutality and ransom-driven networks, senators unanimously agreed that kidnapping had transformed into full-scale terrorism and must attract the highest punishment.
They said capital punishment should apply and insisted that judges must have no power to reduce sentences for convicted kidnappers.
The Senate also urged President Bola Tinubu to further strengthen the nation’s security architecture, a call that prompted Senator Ali Ndume to caution that the message should not be misinterpreted following the recent confirmation of service chiefs.
The chamber later clarified that the demand focused on improving coordination, technology, intelligence and rapid deployment across the security system.
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