Is the death penalty the answer to crime? Amnesty International says no, calling on Nigerian governments to scrap capital punishment and rethink justice for lasting peace.
Barbara Magaji, Amnesty’s Programmes Manager, spoke at a World Day Against Death Penalty event, highlighting that Nigeria’s security challenges persist despite using the death penalty for crimes like banditry and kidnapping. With 3,688 inmates currently on death row and rising crime rates, she stressed that capital punishment isn’t a deterrent.
Magaji urged lawmakers to remove death penalty provisions during ongoing constitutional reforms, advocate fair trials, and invest in a justice system that supports victims and upholds human rights. Amnesty International stands firm that the death penalty risks innocent lives, violates the right to life, and contradicts global trends towards abolition.
Nigeria joins over 140 countries moving away from capital punishment to embrace more humane, effective justice.
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