Senate
The Senate on Wednesday took a firm stance against the country’s worsening insecurity, declaring kidnapping a form of terrorism and recommending the death penalty for offenders, without the option of fines or judicial discretion to reduce sentences.
The resolution followed hours of tense debate triggered by the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others.
Although all victims were later rescued in joint operations involving the army, police, DSS agents, and local vigilantes, lawmakers said the incident exposed the alarming southward drift of insurgent cells and the collapse of security in rural communities.
The decisions stemmed from a motion by Senator Yisa Ashiru (Kwara South) titled “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States and Strengthen National Security Frameworks,” which opened a floodgate of concerns over attacks on schools, worship centres, highways, and entire communities. Punch
