The administration of President Bola Tinubu has cautioned that imposing the death penalty on terrorists involved in killings and kidnappings will not resolve Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
The Tinubu government warned that such a move could be counterproductive and undermine international cooperation.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated this on Thursday while addressing lawmakers at a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The hearing was jointly organised by the Senate Committees on Human Rights and Legal Matters, National Security and Intelligence, and Interior.
According to him, capital punishment for convicted terrorists could fuel extremist narratives rather than deter violent actors.
“From a tactical perspective, it is our view that the proposal to include the death penalty for convicted terrorists should be reviewed, because it inadvertently facilitates the ‘martyrdom’ trap,” Fagbemi told senators.
“It is critical to note that the fight against terrorism deals with an enemy often driven by radical ideologies, where a state-sanctioned execution is viewed not as a deterrent but as a validation of their cause.”
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