President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Abayomi Susan
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially designated kidnappers, bandits, and other violent armed groups as terrorists, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to addressing insecurity. This move, announced by Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, aims to tackle abductions, attacks on farmers, and community violence more effectively.
Under this new classification, any armed group or individual that kidnaps, attacks farmers, or terrorizes communities will be treated as a terrorist. The government has also announced plans to deploy trained forest guards to secure vulnerable rural areas and disrupt criminal supply routes.
President Bola Tinubu emphasized that this new framework will end the practice of treating banditry, militancy, and related crimes as isolated incidents, instead categorizing them as terrorism. The administration has allocated N5.41 trillion for Defence and Security in the 2026 budget, prioritizing national security and stability.
This designation is expected to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies, allowing for faster and more decisive action against perpetrators of violence.
