The Nigerian Senate has advanced amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, extending the death penalty to all actors involved in kidnapping, including perpetrators, financiers, informants, and logistics supporters.

The Bill seeks to classify kidnapping and hostage-taking as terrorism, granting security agencies broader powers to trace illicit financial flows, disrupt networks, and carry out intelligence-driven operations. Lawmakers described kidnapping as a militarised, commercialised, and terror-like crime devastating families and communities, and emphasized targeting violent offenders while respecting constitutional safeguards.

The Bill also calls for scrutiny of financial institutions facilitating ransom payments and stronger coordination among security agencies to prevent, investigate, and prosecute kidnappers, marking a decisive legislative push against Nigeria’s escalating kidnapping crisis.