Senate Mulls Death Penalty for Kidnapping, Declares It’s Now Deemed Act of Terrorism

*Dissolves c’ttees on national security, intelligence, air force

*Dickson differs, says let’s tell Tinubu the truth

*Mohammed says no form of banditry in Bauchi, state remains safest in north east 

*You cannot fight insurgency by doing deals with bandits, ADC warns

*Ex-AGF Malami welcomes release of Kebbi schoolgirls, calls for tighter security

*Bandits have turned Kanji national park to operational base, says House member 

Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade, Folalumi Alaran in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto, Sylvester Idowu in Warri 

The Senate, yesterday, took some key security decisions, including declaring kidnapping a form of terrorism and recommending the death penalty for offenders without the option of fine or judicial discretion to reduce the punishment. 

This followed hours of tense deliberations over escalating insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, and neighbouring states, triggered by the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 abducted.

Although all the abducted victims were later released after the interventions of the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, and vigilante groups, the lawmakers said the attack confirmed the southward spread of insurgent activities and the deepening collapse of rural security.

The Senate resolutions followed a debate on a motion titled: “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States and Strengthen National Security Frameworks,” moved by Senator Oyelola Ashiru, representing Kwara South Senatorial District.

Senators warned that schools, worship centres, roads, and entire communities had become targets in a widening pattern of attacks. 

The Senate noted that the wave of school abductions had forced the shutdown of learning activities in all local governments of Kebbi and Niger States, five LGAs in Kwara, and all 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

The chamber expressed alarm over reports that troops were withdrawn from a school in Kebbi State a few minutes before bandits struck, and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident, as well as the killing of Brigadier-General Uba, who was ambushed after his security warnings were allegedly leaked.

Senators also identified internal collaborators, compromised intelligence channels, and the takeover of forest corridors, such as the Kwara–Kogi axis, Kebbi–Zamfara route, and Shiroro–Rafi–Munya triangle, as enabling factors behind the surge in coordinated attacks.

Senator Issa Jibrin (Kogi East) lamented Nigeria’s severe security manpower deficit, noting that the nation’s military, police, and paramilitary personnel combined did not total one million, while Egypt, with a similar population, maintains over 1.5 million security personnel. 

He called for urgent modernisation of equipment, improved intelligence coordination, and activation of a military reserve force to support overstretched troops.

Other senators warned that bandit activities were now creeping toward Osun State through Ekiti-linked communities around Eruku–Isapa–Koro, where a retired Army General and traditional ruler were recently killed.

On infrastructure, lawmakers blamed deteriorated highways, especially the Idofian–Omu-Aran–Eruku–Egbe–Kabba road, for enabling bandits’ swift escape after attacks. 

The Federal Ministry of Works was directed to immediately commence reconstruction of the corridor.

Concerned by rising brutality and ransom-driven criminal networks, senators agreed that kidnapping had evolved into a form of terrorism and must be confronted with the harshest punishment under the law. 

“Capital punishment must apply,” several senators argued, insisting that no judge should have the power to reduce the sentence for convicted kidnappers.

The Senate called on President Bola Tinubu to “further rejig the nation’s security architecture.” 

Although Senator Ali Ndume cautioned that such statements could be misinterpreted in light of the recent confirmation of service chiefs. 

The chamber clarified that its demand was aimed at strengthening coordination, technology, intelligence, and rapid deployment capabilities.

In one of the decisions, the Senate dissolved its Committee on National Security & Intelligence and the Committee on Air Force with immediate effect. 

All other security-related committees were directed to submit written reports of their oversight activities and brief the Senate in a closed session within one week.

The Senate also resolved to strengthen registered vigilante groups through federal support; review Nigeria’s firearms law to permit controlled arming of responsible citizens.

It also resolved to ask the relevant government authorities to establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) along the Kwara–Kogi corridor with operating bases in Eruku, Babanla, Oke-Ero, and Isanlu; and expand aerial surveillance, forest combing, and inter-state security operations.

Additionally, lawmakers mandated the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to provide relief materials to affected families, especially in communities where schools remain closed.

The chamber also approved diplomatic engagements with the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, and other allied nations for intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism training, drone technology, and acquisition of advanced surveillance systems.

While commending President Tinubu for cancelling foreign trips and personally coordinating rescue operations that led to the release of 51 abducted Niger State students and all 38 Kwara abductees, the Senate urged him to sustain momentum until all victims across the country are freed.

The Senate lamented ransom payment and demanded the exposure of those behind the negotiation with a view to arresting issues of terrorism and banditry from the source.

A one-minute silence was observed in honour of all victims of recent attacks, just as the Senate noted with concern that Nigeria’s internal security environment was deteriorating at a dangerous pace.

It warned that failure to act decisively could trigger mass displacement, collapse of rural economies, further school shutdowns, and severe psychological trauma for millions.

It reaffirmed its commitment to monitor compliance with all resolutions, insisting that insecurity now poses the greatest threat to Nigeria’s unity, stability, and future.

Dickson: Let’s tell President Tinubu truth

The senator for Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has disagreed with his colleagues, saying they should tell President Bola Tinubu the truth and not commend him unduly.

His words: “Today, the Senate had an elaborate discussion on the security situation in the country, which has worsened in the last few weeks. 

“When the Senate President recognised me to speak, I started by reminding him how I raised this issue with him a couple of days ago, and the need for us to work together. I added that it was good the matter had come up by way of a motion.

“I felt that the deterioration of the security situation in most communities, the killings and abductions, and even the killing of soldiers and officers – one of them of the rank of Brigadier General – and the way terrorists are abducting students, with bandits attacking several States at the same time, are situations that even nations at war do not experience. 

“Therefore, the matter should be examined with all the seriousness it deserves. I stated that It is very clear that not only our democracy is under threat, but the nation itself is being reduced, belittled, and threatened. 

“I also disagreed with the approach and tone of the motion, and some of the comments from members of the majority party who, in my view, were unnecessarily political. That, in my view, did not match the seriousness of the issue.

“At this point, the Senate President did not allow me to conclude my comments. But what I was saying was that, yes, as I have said several times, the entire nation is under attack, and we must all unite to address this challenge. 

“I do not agree with the request in the motion, supported by the majority of speakers from the majority party, that the President and the government should be commended. I disagree with it.

“I believe that the president needs to be told the truth, and that those with access to him, particularly from the majority party and others, should tell the President the true situation of things. 

“The seriousness of the matter is such that there should be no sugarcoating, or attempts to be politically correct, as that is, in my opinion, unnecessary hypocrisy and disservice to the country and even to the president. 

“As I said, we are the Senate of the Federal Republic with powers to oversight the President and the military, including the ministers and the security leaders. And that we must do. 

“That is our responsibility to the nation and the people of Nigeria who are presently under attack, displaced, traumatised, killed and apprehensive. They are wondering what their leaders and their government are doing. 

“In the prevailing circumstances I expressed on the floor a strong objection to the motion of commendation because it is ill-timed, insensitive and even provocative. It is not helpful to the image of the Senate as an institution or the president who is sought to be commended. 

“If things have been so well done, we would not be where we are today. How will the victims, the soldiers fighting, the victims of kidnap and families of those killed feel?”

No Form of Banditry in Bauchi, Remains Safest in N’East, Says Bala Mohammed 

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has declared that there was no any act of banditry in the state, maintaining that Bauchi remained one of the safest in the North East subregion. 

The governor spoke at the opening of an extraordinary meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC), held at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office yesterday. 

“Yes, we had an incident in Darazo last week. It was reported. But I want to tell you that, it is a community issue. We are here on the ground. We know it.

“I want to tell the general public that, what happened in Darazo was not banditry. It is a community issue. We will handle it with the Police and the DSS. Because of security reasons, I will not disclose all the information. 

“But investors will be reassured that it is not banditry. Yes, we closed our schools because we were asked to close them by the security agencies. They have more information than us.

“Even though I am the Chief Security Officer, I don’t have the personnel. They have told us that there is a likelihood of abduction of our students as has been practiced all over.

“That is why we are here. For being proactive is not just to create fear but to be safe and secure is better than to go with evil. We will make sure that we do as much as we can to make those half-awake or half-rescued vulnerable students are kept safe in the schools.

“By the end of the year, all our schools will be fenced and we will put some lights and so on and so forth. And that is why the recruitment of the vigilante will be concurrent so that our aspect of safe-school programme as enunciated by the Office of the National Security Advisor will be implemented 100% emotionally. At least we will do our own and leave our Creator to the rest.”

He, however, assured the people that his administration was doing everything possible to save money to be able to provide more developments for the good of the citizens. 

You Cannot Fight Insurgency By Doing Deals With Bandits, ADC Warns FG

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said while it rejoiced with the families and communities whose loved ones had been rescued from the recent wave of kidnappings across the country, the federal government could not fight insurgency by doing deals with the criminals.

The ADC said while it was  delighted that the citizens could finally reunite with their families, it reiterated the long-standing position that these abductions should never have occurred in the first place if the government were alive to its constitutional responsibilities. 

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, National Publicity Secretary, Balaji Abdullahi said, ”What the country is witnessing today is the consequence of an administration distracted by politics and behaving less like a democratic government and more like an occupying force. 

“It is telling that it took a chastening comment from President Trump to provoke even the slightest response from our government.

”Yet, even as we welcome the safe return of the victims, we remain deeply concerned about the opaque and troubling manner in which their release was secured.

”The conflicting accounts coming from different government officials make it clear that the Federal Government is not being honest with Nigerians about the circumstances surrounding the release of the abducted victims. 

“We strongly believe that this administration is negotiating deals with insurgents. It is especially alarming to hear the Inspector General of Police state that the perpetrators of the Kwara church attack were not arrested because they ‘came out voluntarily for the peace talk.’

“Equally troubling is the comment attributed to the Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, suggesting that the abductees were released simply because the government and security operatives “asked them nicely.”

Malami Welcomes Release of Kebbi Schoolgirls, Calls for Tighter Security

Former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has  expressed relief at the safe return of the 24 girls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. 

In a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami described the reunion as “a profound relief to their families and to the entire people of Kebbi State” and praised the girls’ resilience amid “unimaginable trauma”  

He extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the family of the slain vice‑principal, whose death, he said, “stands as a painful reminder of the threats confronting our schools and our collective peaceful co‑existence.” 

Malami, however, called on both state and federal governments to “intensify security measures, strengthen early‑warning systems, enhance intelligence sharing, and adopt proactive strategies” to prevent any repeat of the attack 

The former AGF also urged the authorities to ensure that “no child is exposed to terror while pursuing education in an era of technological advancement,” and reiterated his solidarity with the affected parents, guardians, and the wider community.

Boko Haram Members’ Names Discovered on Army List at Recruitment, Says Wase

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase, yesterday, alleged that there were times when members of the Boko Haram insurgent and armed robbers found their way into the military during recruitment exercises.

Wase made the allegation while speaking on behalf of the North Central caucus of the House of Representatives during a debate on the security situation in the country.

Against this background, he said the issue of sabotage within the security sector must be properly addressed through a comprehensive review of the recruitment of personnel into the various security services.

“There were moments in time when, in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram were found in the list. Other criminals, armed robbers, and gangs were found in the list of the Nigerian army and police.

“There has to be a thorough way of ensuring that when we are recruiting, those of us who are politicians are recommending people of good character and integrity. That’s the only way we can solve this problem. And I want to also allude to the fact that, maybe, bring one example.

“The former SGF was in an airport and saw somebody that he knew as an armed robber wearing a Nigerian uniform. He ordered his arrest immediately. This is a part of the problem that we are being faced with.

“You find a criminal in the system, and before you know it, whatever you do, you cannot have the problem resolved. So we must change the system and the way of our recruitment. Yes, as politicians, it’s good to recommend,” Wase stated.

Wase also called for a review of the recent presidential order withdrawing police men from VIPs across the country.

He was of the opinion that there should be a categorisation of those who can benefit from police escorts.

Bandits Have Turned Kanji National Park to Operational Base, Lawmaker Reveals

A member of the House of Representatives fromBorgu/Agwara Federal Constituency in Niger State, Hon. Jafaru Ali, has revealed that bandits terrorising the state have turned the Kanji National Park to their operational base where they launched attacks.

The lawmaker made this known during plenary yesterday while moving a motion pursuant to Order 8, Rule 5, Standing Orders on the urgent need to address frequent banditry attacks, rampant killings and kidnapping  in Niger State.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that on 21st of November, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and kidnapped 303 students, 12 teachers and a notable figure, Sarkin Samarin Agwara.

He added that 50 out of the 303 students escaped and reunited with their parents.

Ali noted that on November 4, 2025, during his routine condolence visit in his constituency, he was attacked by armed gunmen in their hundreds which resulted in loss of lives and injuries to many innocent personnel at Agwara to Babanna in Borgu Local Government, Niger State.

The lawmaker said notable public figures, such as former SUBEB Chairman, Niger State; Niger State Electoral Commissioner and dozens of travellers who were kidnapped along Mokwa to New-Bussa road were still in captivity.

He further recalled that on 2nd November, 2025 at Gidan Guga bordering Agwara and Borgu, three people were killed in a family compound, while their father was injured and currently in Usman DanFodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

He added that many villages and towns that were displaced included Boyiya, Bakin Bara to mention but a few; Aika, Kuka, Dekara, Kerenji, Saminaka and Audu Fari were fully dominated by bandits.

Northern Groups Accuse Foreign, Local Actors of Fueling Attacks

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has raised the alarm over what it described as a coordinated and escalating onslaught against Northern Nigeria, alleging that foreign interests and domestic saboteurs were collaborating to destabilise the region and plunge the country into deeper insecurity.

CNG expressed concern that the United States, despite its advanced intelligence capabilities, has fallen for a “dangerous propaganda narrative” portraying the violence in Plateau and Benue States as genocide, while overlooking the far heavier casualties recorded in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Borno, and other northern states.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the group said the recent surge in violent attacks across the North bore the hallmarks of a deliberate and well-funded agenda, orchestrated both within and outside the country.

Charanchi said it was “alarming” that US President Donald Trump appeared influenced by “misinformation not supported by the CIA, FBI, or even the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.” 

He noted that Trump’s special envoy for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, had publicly dismissed the genocide claims as baseless.

Group Urges Increased Security Surveillance, Visible Operations in N’Delta

The Niger Delta Peoples Movement (NDPM) has tasked the security formations in the region to improve on intelligence gathering, surveillance and visible operations to ensure the insecurity and kidnappings of school children from infiltrating the region.

The group said the call became necessary to prevent similar crises from infiltrating the region and also encouraged residents to report suspicious activities promptly to the appropriate authorities.

It expressed deep concern and unwavering condemnation over the persistent and horrifying abductions of school girls across Nigeria. 

The group, in a statement, issued yesterday and signed by its Executive Secretary, Ejiro Ineneji, said the attacks, carried out by extremist elements exploiting the country’s widening security lapses, represented a direct assault on childhood, education, national dignity and the moral fabric of the nation.

He noted that Nigeria was currently facing a severe and rapidly deteriorating security environment that has left citizens anxious and unprotected in every region. 

“Communities no longer feel safe, businesses are shutting down and both local and foreign investors are withdrawing due to sustained instability. The situation has reached a critical point that is no longer acceptable,” it added.

NDPM, therefore, called on the Nigerian Police Force, the military and all national security agencies to demonstrate renewed courage, professionalism, and commitment to their constitutional responsibilities. 

“At this sensitive moment, the nation’s security institutions appear weakened before the very citizens they are sworn to defend, and before the international community that once viewed Nigeria as a beacon of leadership, strength, and African excellence. This accelerating erosion of security is damaging Nigeria’s reputation, economic outlook, and global standing,” it stated.

NDPM also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement stronger, innovative, and if necessary, unconventional measures to decisively confront the escalating threats ravaging the country.