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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Nigerian Senate outlaws ransom payments, sets death penalty for abductions

FILE PHOTO: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari gives a statement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination, during a European Union - African Union summit, in Brussels, Belgium February 18, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/Pool/File Photo

Nigeria's Senate on Wednesday passed a bill imposing jail terms of at least 15 years for paying a ransom to free someone who has been kidnapped, and made abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.

Armed gangs operating mostly in northeastern and north-central states of Nigeria have for more than a decade spread terror through kidnappings for ransom, targeting students, villagers and motorists on highways. They have also killed thousands of people.

The bill, which amends Nigeria's terrorism law, mandates the death penalty for convicted kidnappers where the abduction leads to loss of life, and life imprisonment in other cases.

FILE PHOTO: Abandoned clothing and bedding are seen at the JSS Jangebe school, a day after more than 300 schoolgirls were abducted by bandits, in Zamfara, Nigeria. Picture taken February 27, 2021. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/

Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman of the Senate's judiciary, human rights and legal committee, told the Senate that making ransom payment punishable with jail would "discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom in Nigeria, which is fast spreading across the country".

President Muhammadu Buhari's government has already classified the armed kidnapping gangs, known locally as "bandits", as terrorists this year - but that has not stemmed the kidnappings, now almost a daily occurrence.

The bill will be debated in the lower House of Representatives before being sent for the president to sign.

FILE PHOTO: Saidu Umaru walks on the farmland that he sold to raise ransom money for the release of his children who had been abducted from Salihu Tanko Islamic school in Tegina, Niger State, Nigeria. Picture taken August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Editing by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Kevin Liffey)

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