Group Applauds Senator Over Terrorism Death Penalty Bill

A civil society group, Advocacy Intelligence and Development Partners, has commended the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, for sponsoring a bill seeking capital punishment for terrorism-related offences.

The group described the move as bold and timely, saying it reflected legislative courage in the face of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Osabinu Olufemi, AIDP said Bamidele placed national survival above political sentiment at a time the country is grappling with insurgency, banditry, mass kidnappings and violent extremism.

The group noted that terrorism in Nigeria had evolved from isolated attacks into an organised and ideological threat, citing the activities of Boko Haram, ISWAP and armed bandit networks targeting civilians and state institutions.

AIDP said the proposed bill was not driven by vengeance but by deterrence and the need for a firm state response.

It quoted the Senate Leader as saying that when terrorists declare war on a state, the state must respond with laws that reflect the gravity of such a war.

According to the group, existing penalties have failed to deter terrorism, stressing that the bill would send a clear message that terrorism is mass murder, not activism or grievance politics.

The advocacy group argued that prioritising the rights of terrorists over those of their victims amounted to a distortion of justice, insisting that the protection of innocent lives must come first.

While acknowledging concerns about judicial errors and possible political misuse, AIDP said such fears should be addressed through stronger investigations, judicial independence and robust appellate safeguards.

The group also criticised lawmakers opposing the bill without offering credible alternatives, warning that hesitation in confronting terrorism weakens national security.

It urged the National Assembly to support the bill, saying decisive legal action was necessary to restore public confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework.