The Nigerian government has officially designated kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, signaling a major shift in its approach to insecurity.
READ ALSO: Gunmen kidnap Plateau monarch
Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced the move on Monday during a year-end press briefing in Abuja, emphasizing that crimes such as kidnapping, attacks on farmers, and terrorizing communities will now be treated as acts of terrorism. “The era of ambiguity is over. If you terrorize our people, you will be classified as a terrorist,” Idris said.
The minister explained that this reclassification will strengthen intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies, enabling faster and more effective responses. He cited recent successes in 2025, including the capture of two internationally wanted criminals, as examples of the benefits of coordinated operations.
To tackle rural insecurity, the government is deploying trained and equipped forest guards to protect vulnerable areas. This initiative combines surveillance, intelligence, and rapid-response measures to disrupt criminal networks, dismantle hideouts, and provide reassurance to affected farming communities.
Idris also highlighted the arrest of the head of ISWAP in Nigeria, a highly wanted terrorist with a US bounty, as evidence of improved inter-agency collaboration. The new strategy reflects a zero-tolerance stance on abductions and rural violence, expanding the powers of security forces in the fight against terrorism.
