Abolish Death Penalty, Strengthen Justice System — Amnesty International Tells Nigerian Government
Story: written Zara October 17,2025
Amnesty International has renewed its call on the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria to abolish the death penalty, urging the adoption of more humane and effective justice measures.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue in Abuja to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Programme Manager of Amnesty International, Mrs. Barbara Magaji, emphasized that the death penalty violates international human rights standards and has failed to deter crime in Nigeria.
The event, organized in partnership with the French Embassy in Nigeria, highlighted the need to eliminate all legal provisions that permit capital punishment at both federal and state levels.
Magaji urged the government to ensure the criminal justice system is well-resourced to investigate crimes thoroughly, support victims, and uphold fair trials — without resorting to executions.
She also called on the National Assembly to consider the total abolition of the death penalty in the ongoing constitutional amendment process, noting that there is no credible evidence that capital punishment deters crime more effectively than other penalties.
“Despite 26 states and the FCT introducing or amending laws to include death sentences for kidnapping, banditry, and cultism, these crimes have continued to rise. Clearly, the death penalty has not worked as a deterrent,” Magaji stated.
Citing Amnesty International’s findings, Magaji revealed that Nigeria recorded over 3,169 deaths from 181 insecurity-related incidents in 2024, with 881 kidnappings the same year. In 2025, 2,313 deaths and 1,025 abductions were reported from 204 insecurity incidents.
She stressed that insecurity in Nigeria is driven by deep-rooted socio-economic and governance issues, which require comprehensive prevention strategies rather than “quick fixes” like capital punishment.
Amnesty International maintained its total opposition to the death penalty, describing it as a violation of the right to life under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“Even when trials meet international standards, the possibility of executing an innocent person can never be ruled out. The death penalty inevitably claims innocent lives,” Magaji said.
She added that while Amnesty International acknowledges the pain suffered by victims of violent crimes and their families, justice must be pursued without violating human rights.
Currently, 143 countries have abolished the death penalty either in law or in practice, signaling a global shift toward humane justice.
