Chukwu Obinna 
House of Representative
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, has outlined new legislative measures that would criminalise ransom negotiations by government officials, presenting the proposal as a central component of Parliament’s response to the country’s worsening security challenges.
Kalu announced the initiative on Tuesday during a special national security session at the House of Representatives, saying Parliament must adopt a more assertive approach to tackling kidnapping and organised criminal activity.
“What is the crisis response Parliament needs to look into? Number one is anti-banditry resolution — to legally prohibit ransom negotiation and mandate criminal justice process over amnesty programmes,” Kalu told lawmakers.
The draft legislation would introduce criminal sanctions against public officials who authorise ransom payments or engage in what he described as “unstructured amnesty deals” with criminal groups. It would also mandate compulsory prosecution for all suspected bandits, removing the discretionary approaches used in previous administrations.
The session follows a sharp uptick in abductions across the country, with attackers increasingly targeting schools and religious gatherings. Kalu said the severity of recent incidents demands urgent, coordinated action.
He also called for accelerated establishment of state and local policing structures equipped with modern technology, arguing that decentralised security systems would respond faster and deter criminal operations more effectively.
The renewed push comes as the Federal Government introduces emergency measures, including restricting police security for prominent individuals and reducing foreign travel by senior officials.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Koko Maxwella 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
Juliet Jacob