The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has intensified calls for tougher measures against terrorism, urging the National Assembly to amend existing laws to make terrorism and related violent crimes punishable by death.
The demand follows the reported killing of retired Major-General Abubakar Rabe by terrorists who had abducted him and allegedly sought the release of their detained associates as a condition for his freedom.
In a statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA described the late military officer’s death as a grim reminder of the escalating threat posed by terrorists and bandits across the country.
The group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s refusal to negotiate with the abductors was commendable, stronger and more decisive actions were required to stem the tide of insecurity.
According to him, the murder of the retired General represents more than a personal tragedy, describing it as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s sovereignty and the authority of the state.
HURIWA argued that the incident demonstrates the increasing boldness of armed groups and highlights the vulnerability of ordinary citizens to violent attacks and abductions.
The organisation also pointed to the recent killing of 17 farmers in Goron Namaye community of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where suspected bandits reportedly attacked farmlands and left several others injured.
It said the attack was among numerous incidents that continue to claim lives and displace communities across various parts of the country.
“The murder of General Rabe and the massacre in Zamfara are tragic illustrations of a wider security crisis that demands urgent and extraordinary responses,” the group stated.
HURIWA lamented that recurring attacks on communities, schools, farmers and travellers have become a disturbing pattern, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current measures against terrorism and banditry.
To strengthen the country’s response, the organisation called for amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to classify terrorism, insurgency, mass kidnapping, terrorist financing and large-scale attacks on civilians as capital offences.
It also advocated the creation of special terrorism courts to fast-track prosecution and prevent prolonged legal delays in terrorism-related cases.
The rights group further urged authorities to review the existing suspension of executions for condemned criminals, arguing that convicted terrorists who have exhausted all legal avenues should face the full weight of the law.
Beyond legal reforms, HURIWA called on the Federal Government to intensify intelligence-driven military operations aimed at dismantling terrorist camps and eliminating criminal strongholds across the country.
The organisation maintained that Nigeria’s worsening security challenges require more than routine condemnations, insisting that decisive action is needed to restore public confidence and protect lives.
HURIWA said the deaths of General Rabe and scores of other victims of terrorism should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to adopt a more robust and coordinated strategy against violent criminal groups.
“The nation must demonstrate clearly that those who wage war against innocent citizens and the Nigerian State will face severe consequences under the law,” the Statement added.