Nigeria Expands Death Penalty to Target Entire Kidnapping Networks
Part of composite article The Rise of the Criminal State: Gangs Replace Governments View full article →
Nigeria’s Senate has approved a major expansion of its anti-terrorism laws to combat kidnapping. The amendment now applies the death penalty not only to kidnappers, but also to their financiers and informants.
Lawmakers advanced the changes to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act on Tuesday. The move aims to dismantle entire criminal networks by targeting every participant.
The revised law mandates capital punishment for anyone involved in a kidnapping conspiracy. This includes those who plan, fund, or provide information for the crime.
The amendment updates legislation from 2022. It represents a significant hardening of Nigeria’s legal approach to a widespread security challenge.