Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Senate President Godswill Akpabio has thrown the weight of his office behind a suite of tough legislative measures aimed at confronting Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, including support for imposing the death penalty on convicted kidnappers, and has publicly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership in national security efforts. The remarks were delivered on Thursday during a high‑profile All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caucus meeting at the State House in Abuja, where senior party leaders convened to assess progress on security, party cohesion, and political strategy with less than two years to go before the 2027 general elections.
In his address, Akpabio characterised kidnapping and related violent crimes as existential threats to Nigerian society that demand far stronger deterrents than currently available in existing law. He highlighted recent legislative action taken by the Senate, including the passage of a bill that would classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism under Nigerian law — a move that, once assented to by the President, would expose convicted kidnappers to capital punishment. Akpabio urged state governors and justice officials to be prepared to enforce such sanctions where constitutionally permissible, warning that leniency or hesitation could embolden criminal networks.
The Senate President also praised the Tinubu administration’s security interventions, particularly recent operations that led to the rescue of more than 100 abducted children, describing them as evidence of decisive leadership in the face of complex challenges. Akpabio expressed condolences to families who had lost loved ones to kidnappings and other violent crimes, and he thanked security forces for their sacrifices in defending vulnerable communities.
Akpabio framed the push for harsher penalties within a broader narrative of national urgency, urging Nigeria’s lawmakers and executive branch to work in concert to restore safety and public confidence. He tied the issue of internal security to regional stability, commending diplomatic engagements — including Tinubu’s role in stabilising neighbouring states — as essential components of both domestic peace and West African security architecture.
Beyond security, Akpabio used the platform to advocate for stronger party unity and electoral cohesion within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. He welcomed high‑profile defections to the ruling party, underscoring what he described as a “commanding majority” that APC now holds nationally. According to Akpabio, this expanded political influence should translate into bloc votes for President Tinubu and broader party success in future elections, provided the party continues to foster internal harmony and accommodate diverse interests within its ranks.
The Senate President’s remarks reflect growing momentum among some Nigerian political leaders to criminalise kidnapping more aggressively and to empower security agencies with wider prosecutorial and operational authority. At the same time, the push for death penalty provisions has sparked debate within legal and human rights circles, with critics warning that capital punishment carries risks and may conflict with international human rights norms. But at the caucus meeting in Abuja, Akpabio and his allies in the APC signalled that they view such measures as essential to deterring rampant criminality and reinforcing the rule of law.
As the legislative framework continues to evolve and the Senate prepares for further public hearings and committee work on the proposed amendments, tensions between punitive policy approaches and rights‑based objections are likely to intensify. For now, however, Akpabio’s backing of harsh penalties for kidnappers, paired with his endorsement of Tinubu’s security agenda and party unity efforts, sets a clear tone for the national conversation on insecurity and governance in the run‑up to the next election cycle.
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