FG officially declares Kidnappers, Bandits as Terrorists

The Federal Government has formally declared kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, a decisive move that escalates Nigeria’s fight against abductions, attacks on farmers, and widespread community violence.

The policy shift was announced on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the end-of-year press briefing held in Abuja.

The decision marks a clear departure from treating mass kidnappings and rural assaults as conventional crimes, placing them squarely under the country’s counterterrorism framework.

“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,” Idris said.

He stressed that the government would no longer tolerate vague labels for criminal groups. “Now, the era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorize 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.”

According to the minister, the new classification will enhance intelligence sharing and improve coordination among security agencies, enabling quicker and more forceful responses to threats. He noted that strengthened inter-agency collaboration has already yielded results, citing the arrest of two internationally wanted criminals in 2025 through joint operations.

As part of efforts to secure rural and hard-to-reach areas, Idris also announced the deployment of specially trained and equipped forest guards. He explained that the guards would rely on surveillance, local intelligence, and rapid-response tactics to secure forests and remote zones frequently used as hideouts by criminal groups.

The government believes the forest guard initiative will help disrupt supply routes, dismantle camps, and restore confidence among farming communities grappling with persistent insecurity.

Idris further highlighted the recent capture of a senior ISWAP leader residing in Nigeria, described as one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent, with a significant bounty placed on him by the United States.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“As we speak today, this gentleman, together with his chief of staff, are undergoing and having their day in court, and he is going to get justice that befits them,” he said.