FG DECLARES KIDNAPPERS, ARMED GROUPS TERRORISTS IN MAJOR SECURITY POLICY SHIFT
Read Time:2 Minute, 17 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has officially designated kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, signalling a major escalation in Nigeria’s response to abductions, attacks on farmers and widespread community violence.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the Federal Government’s end-of-year press briefing in Abuja.
Idris said the new policy marks a clear departure from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as ordinary criminal acts, stressing that such offences will now be confronted using full counterterrorism measures.
“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,” the minister said.
He added that the era of “ambiguous nomenclature” was over, noting that anyone who instils fear or violence in communities, whether as part of a group or acting alone, will be designated and treated as a terrorist.
According to Idris, the policy shift will strengthen intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies, enabling quicker and more decisive action against criminal networks.
The minister noted that improved inter-agency collaboration has already yielded results, revealing that two of the most internationally wanted criminals were captured in 2025 through coordinated security operations.
As part of efforts to secure vulnerable rural communities, Idris also announced the deployment of trained and well-equipped forest guards across the country. He said the guards will combine surveillance, local intelligence and rapid-response capabilities to secure forests and remote areas frequently used as hideouts by criminal gangs.
He explained that the forest guard initiative is expected to disrupt criminal supply routes, dismantle camps and reassure farming communities that have been severely affected by insecurity.
Idris further disclosed the arrest of the ISWAP leader residing in Nigeria, describing him as one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent, with a substantial bounty placed on him by the United States.
“The ISWAP head residing in Nigeria, one of the most internationally wanted criminals, has been captured through the coordination of all the security agencies and the intelligence community,” he said.
He recalled the earlier arrest of Abu Barra, noting that both suspects were apprehended through joint security efforts and have since been presented to the public by the National Security Adviser and other security chiefs.
According to the minister, the suspects, including the ISWAP leader and his chief of staff, are currently undergoing trial and will face justice in line with the law.
By formally classifying kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, the Federal Government says it is sending a strong message of zero tolerance for abductions and rural violence, while expanding the operational reach and legal powers of security forces.
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