Nigeria’s National Assembly has intensified pressure on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute financiers of terrorism as lawmakers in both chambers advanced sweeping security reforms aimed at curbing the country’s worsening insecurity.

During separate plenary sessions, the Senate and House of Representatives pushed for tougher measures against terrorism backers and kidnappers. The Senate went further, endorsing capital punishment for kidnappers and anyone who funds, supports or provides intelligence to them, as it considered 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 related crimes as acts of terrorism, a move he said would strengthen the powers of security agencies to track and dismantle criminal networks.

Bamidele argued that kidnapping had evolved into a commercialised and militarised activity bearing all the hallmarks of terrorism, warning that its spread had devastated families, crippled economic activity and overstretched security forces.

Under the proposed law, offenders, including informants, logistics suppliers and harbourers would face the death penalty. Attempts, conspiracy or incitement to kidnap would attract the same punishment.

Key senators, including Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu and Minority Leader Abba Moro, backed the proposal, with Oshiomhole insisting that deradicalisation programmes for terror suspects should be discontinued.

After extensive debate, the Senate referred the bill to its Committees on Judiciary, National Security, and Interior for further legislative work, with a two week deadline to report back.

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers also demanded the public naming and prosecution of terrorism sponsors as they debated a security report presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

One of the key resolutions adopted was the call for open, transparent and expedited terrorism-related prosecutions, alongside the creation of a Special Court for terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

The House recommended placing all security expenditure on first-line charge to ensure predictable funding, strengthening cashless systems to curb ransom payments, and boosting digital monitoring capacities across financial institutions.

Lawmakers also debated President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police guards from VIPs. While some members argued for redeploying officers to core policing duties, the House resolved that police protection should be limited to serving national officers such as governors and judicial leaders.

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Further resolutions included reviewing the military’s ‘super-camp’ strategy, increasing security presence in volatile regions, enhancing protection for schools and other soft targets, and reactivating CCTV surveillance nationwide. The House also endorsed expedited constitutional amendments to establish state police.

With rising concerns over misinformation and AI-driven harmful content, lawmakers urged a balanced regulatory framework for digital platforms. They also called for improved tracking of weapons, massive recruitment into security agencies, enhanced welfare for personnel, and the creation of a National Fallen Heroes Support Fund.

Other proposals included banning ransom payments by government entities, creating a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States, and expanding trauma and relief interventions in affected communities.

The resolutions will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.

Source: Punch