The Federal Government has formally designated kidnappers and violent armed groups operating across the country as terrorists, signalling a tougher stance against abductions and rural violence.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the Federal Government’s end-of-year media briefing in Abuja.
According to the minister, the new classification marks a clear departure from treating kidnappings and attacks on farming communities as ordinary criminal offences. He said such acts will now be confronted under Nigeria’s full counterterrorism framework.
Idris stated that any individual or group involved in the abduction of citizens, attacks on farmers, or intimidation of communities would henceforth be regarded and treated as terrorists.
He stressed that the government would no longer tolerate what he described as “ambiguous labels” for perpetrators of violence, insisting that anyone who spreads fear or insecurity among Nigerians would face the full weight of the law.
The minister explained that the policy shift would enhance intelligence sharing and coordination among security agencies, allowing for faster and more decisive operations against criminal networks.
He revealed that improved collaboration among security and intelligence agencies has already yielded significant results, including the arrest of two internationally wanted criminals in 2025.
As part of efforts to secure forests and remote areas frequently used as hideouts by criminal groups, Idris also announced the deployment of trained forest guards. He said the personnel would combine surveillance, local intelligence, and rapid-response capabilities to protect vulnerable rural communities.
Highlighting recent successes, the minister confirmed the arrest of a senior ISWAP leader residing in Nigeria, described as one of the most wanted terrorists in Africa, with a substantial bounty previously placed on him by the United States. He added that the suspect, along with key associates, is currently undergoing trial.
By classifying kidnappers and armed groups as terrorists, the Federal Government says it is sending a strong message of zero tolerance for insecurity while expanding the operational powers of security agencies to dismantle criminal networks and restore confidence in affected communities.
