The Senate has endorsed a resolution prescribing the death sentence for anyone convicted of kidnapping or terrorism-related offences.
Lawmakers also agreed that kidnapping should be classified as a terrorist act, urging amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention) Act to reflect the new maximum punishment.
The decision followed intense debate on rising insecurity, triggered by the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 abducted—later rescued through coordinated operations.
The attack forced the closure of schools across five LGAs in Kwara, as well as shutdowns in Kebbi and Niger. All 47 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide were also briefly closed.
Senators linked the incident to a wider surge in mass abductions targeting schools, worship centres, and rural communities. They expressed alarm over reports that military personnel were withdrawn from a Kebbi school shortly before a bandit attack, calling for a transparent investigation.
The chamber warned that internal collaborators, porous forest corridors, and poor infrastructure—such as the deteriorated Idofian–Omu-Aran–Eruku–Egbe–Kabba highway—are enabling criminal networks.
Lawmakers commended President Bola Tinubu for cancelling foreign engagements to coordinate rescue efforts, which led to the release of 51 students in Niger and 38 victims in Kwara. They also praised vigilante groups and affected communities for their resilience.
The Senate cautioned that without decisive action, the country risks deeper displacement, continued school closures, and lasting trauma for children.
