A former United Nations Senior Human Rights and Rule of Law Adviser, Prof. Uchenna Emelonye, has called on Nigeria's National Assembly to abandon plans to impose capital punishment for kidnapping through amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.Speaking at a virtual press conference, Emelonye who serves as CEO of AfriRIGHTS and a visiting Professor at Bournemouth University in the UK argued that tougher penalties would not address the root causes of the crime and could distract from essential reforms.Drawing on his more than 20 years of experience advising over 22 governments in conflict and post-conflict settings on counter-terrorism, criminal justice, and public safety, Emelonye said kidnapping persists due to weak detection, poor intelligence gathering, and fragile institutions not insufficiently severe punishments."Kidnapping thrives because detection is weak, intelligence poor, and institutions fragile," he stated. "Expanding punitive laws distracts from needful reforms and creates false political comfort without improving safety."He described the proposed amendment to classify kidnapping as terrorism and mandate the death penalty as "legally redundant," noting that Nigeria already has overlapping federal and state laws on the issue.At least 14 states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers have enacted anti-kidnapping laws prescribing death in aggravated cases. Despite these provisions, kidnapping continues, underscoring that the challenge lies in enforcement, not legislative harshness.Emelonye urged lawmakers to focus on strengthening institutions through their legislative and oversight powers. He recommended:Establishing a National Kidnapping Prevention and Response Framework under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate agencies, standardize protocols, and maintain a national intelligence database. Providing statutory backing and dedicated funding for specialized Anti-Kidnapping Units across the country, with minimum operational standards and enhanced training. Investing in intelligence-led policing, including regulated access to geolocation data, data-fusion centers, and lawful surveillance tools. "Strengthening institutions, not multiplying penalties, is the path to durable public safety in Nigeria," Emelonye emphasized.His intervention comes amid ongoing Senate deliberations on the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to impose mandatory capital punishment for kidnapping-related offenses.
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