The Senate has commenced the process of amending the nation’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act as lawmakers passed the amendment bill through first reading during plenary today.
The bill sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, followed resolutions reached yesterday when senators, during a heated debate on national insecurity, agreed on the need to classify kidnapping as terrorism punishable by the death penalty.
The introduction of the amendment bill is expected to commence the process of altering the legal framework to impose harsher penalties on kidnappers amid rising security concerns across the country.
The ad hoc committee has been mandated to conduct a thorough investigation and report back to the Senate within four weeks.
Meanwhile,
Senator Ali Ndume has said the Nigerian military is over stretched and does not have the required capacity to adequately deal with the insecurity in the country.
Speaking during plenary today, Ndume stated that the Nigerian Army Aviation has only two helicopters, and Nigeria has only 4 satellites, without coverage for 24 hours.
Ndume further stated that the welfare package and remuneration of the military must be upwardly reviewed, to heighten the morale of officers.
The president of the senate, Godswill Akpabio however noted that the leadership of the military will be invited for interrogation, to understand their predicament and needs as required for their operations.
Concerns have intensified after the deadly raid on the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and reportedly abducted 25 students.
