The National Assembly has intensified efforts to tackle rising insecurity across the country as both the Senate and the House of Representatives push for stronger legal measures against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Lawmakers agreed that kidnapping, hostage-taking and related violent crimes should be classified and prosecuted as acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. They also endorsed the introduction of the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and their collaborators, including informants, financiers, logistics providers and anyone who shelters criminal groups.

During plenary, legislators argued that kidnapping and banditry have grown into organised criminal enterprises threatening national stability. They stressed that Nigeria needs tougher sanctions and a unified security response to deter perpetrators and restore public confidence.

The House of Representatives also called for security funding to be treated as a First Line Charge, ensuring seamless and predictable financing for security agencies. Lawmakers further demanded the prosecution of terrorism sponsors and urged faster, more transparent trials for terrorism-related offences.

According to them, the proposed amendments would strengthen operational capacity across security agencies and dismantle criminal networks responsible for killings, abductions and attacks nationwide.