Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has proposed the introduction of penalties for government officials who engage in ransom negotiations. He made the proposal on Tuesday during a special plenary session on national security at the House of Representatives.
Kalu said the measure would form part of a legislative agenda to be pursued within the next six months, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to rising insecurity. He argued that prohibiting public officials from negotiating with bandits or authorising unstructured amnesty deals would help curb the growing wave of kidnappings.
According to him, the proposal includes criminal penalties for officials involved in ransom negotiations and mandatory prosecution of all suspects arrested for banditry through the criminal justice system.
The Deputy Speaker expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation across the country, urging the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly. He also advocated for improved policing and called for an expedited process toward establishing state or local police, supported by modern security equipment.
The special session was convened following a surge in kidnappings, including recent abductions of schoolchildren and worshippers in several states. In response to the heightened insecurity, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has directed security agencies to intensify operations and has withdrawn police escorts from some VIPs. The President has also postponed foreign trips due to ongoing attacks and abductions.
