In a major policy shift aimed at dismantling the networks of violence across the country, the Federal Government has officially reclassified kidnappers and armed bandits as terrorists.
The announcement, made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja, marks an end to what the government described as “ambiguous nomenclature.” The move ensures that individuals or groups involved in mass abductions and attacks on farming communities will now face the full weight of Nigeria’s counterterrorism laws and military might.
“Henceforth, any armed group or individual that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, and terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist,” Minister Idris declared. “Now, the era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or you are an individual, you are a terrorist and will be classified as such. There is no name hiding under this again.”
The Minister explained that this reclassification is not merely symbolic but is designed to strengthen intelligence sharing and streamline operational coordination between security agencies. To further secure the nation’s interior, Idris announced the deployment of specialized forest guards equipped with surveillance technology and rapid-response capabilities to flush out criminals from remote hideouts.
Highlighting the success of recent inter-agency collaboration, the Minister revealed that Nigeria’s security forces have successfully captured high-value targets, including the head of ISWAP in Nigeria—one of the most sought-after figures on the continent.
“The most internationally wanted criminals, the ISWAP head residing in Nigeria, has been captured through the coordination of all the security agencies and those also in the intelligence community,” Idris noted. “Don’t forget that Abu Barra was captured a few months ago, and he was also presented to the public by the National Security Advisor and other security chiefs.”
The Minister emphasized the significance of these arrests, noting the international interest in these figures.
“This is one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent, and he was captured through the coordination of our security forces. Remember also, this was someone who had a large sum of money put on his head by even the Americans to capture him and bring him to justice,” he explained.
As the government moves forward with this zero-tolerance policy, the captured leaders are already facing the legal consequences of their actions. “As we speak today, this gentleman, together with his chief of staff, is undergoing and having their day in court, and he is going to get justice that befits them,” the Minister concluded.
