Death Penalty for Kidnappers, Terrorists Will Worsen Insecurity in Nigeria – FG Warns Lawmakers

The Federal Government has warned that introducing the death penalty for terrorists and kidnappers could aggravate Nigeria’s security challenges rather than resolve them.

The administration of President Bola Tinubu said capital punishment for kidnapping and terrorism-related offences would be counterproductive, weaken international cooperation, and potentially worsen insecurity across the country.

This position was made known on Thursday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), during a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate Committees on Human Rights and Legal Matters, National Security and Intelligence, and Interior.

Fagbemi openly opposed a Senate proposal seeking to amend Nigeria’s anti-terrorism law to prescribe the death penalty, without the option of a fine, for all kidnapping-related offences. He cautioned that executing convicted terrorists could strengthen extremist propaganda instead of serving as a deterrent.

According to him, state-sanctioned executions risk turning convicted terrorists into symbols of martyrdom, a narrative that radical groups often exploit to justify further violence. He stressed that terrorism is driven largely by extremist ideologies, where death sentences are interpreted as validation rather than punishment.

The Attorney General also warned that the inclusion of the death penalty could damage Nigeria’s standing in global counterterrorism efforts, particularly in matters of extradition and mutual legal assistance. He explained that many of Nigeria’s international partners are legally barred from extraditing suspects who may face capital punishment, a situation that could allow high-profile terror suspects to evade justice by remaining abroad.

Fagbemi further noted that Nigeria already faces serious challenges in implementing death sentences, pointing out that many state governors are reluctant to sign execution warrants for moral, religious, or political reasons. He said this reluctance has effectively created a de facto moratorium, leaving condemned inmates in prolonged detention without closure.

Beyond enforcement concerns, the justice minister highlighted the legal and moral risks associated with the irreversible nature of capital punishment. He warned that errors in convictions cannot be corrected once an execution has been carried out, even if new evidence later emerges.

He concluded that for Nigeria to maintain moral authority and credibility in its justice system, punishments for terrorism must be firm, effective, and capable of review in light of new facts, rather than relying on measures that could ultimately undermine security and justice.