Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government and state authorities to completely abolish the death penalty in Nigeria, arguing that it has failed to reduce crime and poses serious risks to human rights.
The call was made by Mrs. Barbara Magaji, Programmes Manager of Amnesty International Nigeria, during a stakeholders’ dialogue in Abuja held to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty. The event was organised in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria.
Magaji said that while many states in Nigeria have adopted the death penalty as punishment for crimes such as kidnapping, terrorism, and cultism, there is no reliable evidence that it has deterred crime. Instead, she said, insecurity continues to rise across the country.
“There is no convincing evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crimes,” she said.
“In Nigeria presently, 26 states and the FCT have introduced or amended laws prescribing the death penalty for offences like kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, and cultism. Despite this, we continue to witness increased cases of criminality.”
She urged the Federal Government to review all national and state laws that include the death penalty, especially during the ongoing constitutional amendment process. Magaji also called on the National Assembly to lead efforts to remove death penalty provisions from Nigeria’s laws in line with international human rights standards.
According to Amnesty International’s research, the use of the death penalty has done little to reduce violent crime. Instead, the group’s data showed a sharp rise in insecurity, unlawful killings, and kidnappings in recent years.
“In 2024 alone, there were over 181 incidents leading to extrajudicial killings linked to terrorism, urban crime, herder-farmer conflicts, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), resulting in 3,169 deaths,” Magaji revealed.
“In the same year, 881 people were kidnapped. In 2025 so far, 204 insecurity incidents have caused 2,313 deaths and 1,025 kidnappings.”
She said these figures prove that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent and that the government should instead focus on strengthening the justice system, improving investigation and prosecution, and adopting long-term strategies to tackle the root causes of crime.
Amnesty International maintains that the death penalty violates the right to life, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“Amnesty International is opposed to the death penalty in all cases without exception,” Magaji said.
“It is often imposed after unfair trials. Even when trials appear fair, the risk of executing innocent people can never be eliminated.”
She also acknowledged the suffering of victims of violent crime and the need for justice, but emphasized that justice must not come at the cost of human life.
“In opposing the death penalty, Amnesty is not condoning crime,” she added.
“We fully recognise the pain of victims and their families and the government’s responsibility to protect lives. But those convicted should be held accountable through fair trials—not executed.”
The human rights group insists that Nigeria should focus on building a stronger, more efficient criminal justice system, rather than using the death penalty as a quick fix for deep-rooted security problems.
“The rising insecurity in Nigeria is a result of many interconnected issues that affect people from the national level down to the local communities. It requires a comprehensive, well-planned response—not the false comfort of death sentences,” Magaji said.
Amnesty International urged the government to invest more in crime prevention, improve the welfare of security forces, promote community policing, and ensure fair and transparent trials for all suspects.
As of now, 143 countries around the world have either abolished the death penalty completely or no longer use it in practice, according to Amnesty International.
Nigeria is among the countries that still retain capital punishment in law and practice, with hundreds of inmates currently on death row. Although executions have been rare in recent years, death sentences continue to be handed down by courts, especially for violent offences.
In recent times, civil society organisations and international partners have increased pressure on Nigeria to join the global movement toward abolition, citing both human rights concerns and the need for more effective criminal justice reforms.
The stakeholders’ dialogue in Abuja brought together legal experts, human rights advocates, government representatives, and diplomats, all of whom shared perspectives on the future of capital punishment in Nigeria.
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