Senate passes new bill making it a criminal offence to pay ransom fees to kidnappers

NIGERIA'S senate has amended the Terrorism Prevention Act adding a clause that prohibits the payment of ransom feed to kidnappers with a penalty that punishes a breach of the law with  a jail term of 15 years.

Of late, the kidnapping industry has boomed in Nigeria, turning abductions into a highly lucrative trade. As kidnapping has spread, families of victims have parted with huge sums to secure the release of relatives and with the pandemic spreading out of control, the senate has had to act.

Yesterday, the senate decided to amend the bill following the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the committee’s chairman, who laid the report, said in his presentation that the bill sought to outlaw payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists.

“The overall import of this bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom In Nigeria, which is fast spreading across the country,” Senator Bamidele added.

Commenting on the bill after its passage, senate president, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said the proposal would complement the federal government’s efforts in the fight against insecurity when it is signed into law by the president.

Senator Lawan said: “It is our belief here in the senate, that this bill, by the time signed into an act by Mr President, will enhance the efforts of this government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other associated and related vices. This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security situation in Nigeria but even the economic fortunes of our country.”