The National Assembly on Wednesday demanded that the identities of terrorism financiers in Nigeria be publicly revealed and that they be prosecuted, as the Federal Government considers new strategies to tackle rising insecurity nationwide.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives made the call during their plenary sessions, describing the public exposure of financial backers of terrorism as a necessary step toward addressing the worsening security situation.
The Senate went further, proposing the death penalty for kidnappers—as well as anyone who funds, supports, or provides information to them—during deliberations on amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The amendment bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking, and similar crimes as acts of terrorism. This would give security agencies broader powers to track, disrupt, and prosecute the criminal syndicates behind them.
The debate dominated the day’s proceedings, with senators including Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Minority Leader Abba Moro offering strong support. After extended deliberations, the Senate approved the bill for further legislative work and referred it to the Committees on Judiciary, National Security and Intelligence, and Interior. The committees are expected to report back within two weeks.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the goal was to categorise kidnapping and related offences as terrorism and impose the death penalty without the option of fines. He warned that kidnapping has evolved into an organised, militarised criminal enterprise that has devastated communities, disrupted education, crippled agricultural activities, bankrupted families, and overstretched security forces.
He argued that the brutality associated with kidnapping now mirrors terrorism, making it necessary to prosecute offenders under counter-terrorism laws. He added that the penalty would also apply to informants, logistics providers, harbourers, transporters, and anyone who knowingly assists kidnapping operations, including those who attempt, conspire, or incite such crimes.
Oshiomhole backed the proposal, criticising deradicalisation programmes and insisting that convicted terrorists should face the death penalty. Kalu also supported the bill, insisting that sponsors and informants must be held accountable. Moro described the proposal as a collective Senate decision aimed at deterring kidnappers.
Senator Victor Umeh raised concerns about financial institutions that may be enabling ransom payments, noting the increasing trend of victims being killed even after ransom has been paid.
Last week, the Senate debated a similar motion following the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 others abducted. Although the victims were later rescued, lawmakers said the incident showed that insurgent cells were spreading southward.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Yisa Ashiru, also highlighted rising school kidnappings that have forced closures in parts of Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states, as well as in all 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers also called for the public naming and prosecution of those financing terrorism. The resolution followed the consideration of a draft security report during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The House had earlier dedicated its entire Tuesday plenary to a nationwide debate on the escalating wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren and church worshippers in various states.
