The Senate on Thursday initiated the amendment of Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, passing the amendment bill through first reading during plenary.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, follows resolutions reached barely 24 hours earlier during an intense debate on the country’s security challenges, where lawmakers agreed that kidnapping should be classified as terrorism punishable by death.
The proposed amendment is expected to strengthen the nation’s legal framework and impose harsher penalties on kidnappers amid a surge in violent attacks across several states.
Senate Sets Up 18-Member Panel on Safe School Initiative
Meanwhile, the Senate has constituted an 18-member ad hoc committee to investigate the implementation of the Safe School Initiative, appointing Senator Orji Kalu as chairman.
Other members include Senators Tony Nwoye, Yemi Adaramodu, Harry Ipalibo, Ede Dafinone, Mustapha Saliu, Diket Plang, Binus Yaroe, Kaka Shehu and Musa Garba Maidoki, among others.
The committee was formed following concerns raised by lawmakers over the continued attacks on educational institutions despite funds allocated to the programme.
Their worries intensified after the recent deadly attack on Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and reportedly abducted 25 students.
The move to constitute the panel was strengthened by additional prayers from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who demanded a comprehensive review of the initiative’s implementation.
The committee has been given four weeks to submit its report.
Rising Attacks Heighten National Security Concerns
The Senate resolutions come against the backdrop of widespread insecurity, including last week’s mass abduction of over 300 schoolchildren and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, Niger State.
Other attacks were also recorded in Kwara, Kano and Borno, prompting heightened anxiety nationwide.
Tinubu Declares Security Emergency
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency and approved additional recruitment into the armed forces and police.
He authorized security agencies to convert National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps into training depots and directed officers withdrawn from VIP protection duties to undergo crash training before being deployed to security-prone areas.
The President also instructed the Department of State Services to immediately deploy trained forest guards to flush out bandits and terrorists hiding in forests across the country.
