Nigeria, Dec. 12 -- On Wednesday, 3 December, the Nigerian Senate passed the Anti-Terrorism Act amendment bill for second reading.

A major highlight of the bill is the imposition of the death penalty without the option of a fine for all kidnapping offences.

The bill has now been scheduled for a public hearing, although the date has not been announced yet. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that the hearing would address the role of sponsors and accomplices in kidnapping networks.

A similar commitment had been made in the House of Representatives. At the end of its three-day special session on security a week earlier, the lower chamber resolved to ask the executive arm to name terrorism financiers.

With its resolution, all ...