Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Nigeria’s Senate has taken a decisive step in the country’s fight against violent crime, officially classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism and recommending the death penalty for offenders. The move comes in response to the brutal November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 others abducted.
Lawmakers say the reclassification is necessary to confront the growing scale and sophistication of kidnapping syndicates across the country—criminal networks whose tactics increasingly mirror those of terror groups. By elevating kidnapping to the level of terrorism, the Senate aims to empower security agencies with broader operational authority and to impose harsher penalties on perpetrators.
The deadly church attack, which left families grieving and an entire community traumatized, became a tipping point in legislative discussions. Senators argued that the incident reflects a larger national crisis, where religious centres, schools, farms and highways have become targets for armed gangs seeking ransom or asserting territorial presence.
Security analysts warn that while the proposed death penalty signals strong intent, the real issue goes deeper: Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic is driven by weak law enforcement capacity, porous borders, rising poverty, and the lucrative ransom economy that has turned abductions into a thriving criminal industry.
As the bill advances, citizens are watching closely to see whether stricter laws will translate into improved protection—or whether the country must confront a more systemic overhaul to stop the cycle of violence.
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