Nigerian Government Officially Designates Kidnappers and Bandits as Terrorists

The Nigerian Federal Government has declared kidnappers and violent armed groups to be officially classified as terrorists. This major policy shift, announced by Information Minister Mohammed Idris, aims to escalate the legal and military response to the widespread insecurity plaguing the country.

Minister Idris stated that any group or individual involved in kidnapping, attacking farmers, or terrorizing communities will now be treated under full counterterrorism laws. "The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over," he said. The new designation is intended to strengthen intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies for faster, more decisive action.

To bolster security in vulnerable rural areas, the government also announced the deployment of a new force of trained and equipped "forest guards." These personnel will conduct surveillance, gather local intelligence, and provide rapid response in forests and remote areas often used as criminal hideouts. This initiative aims to disrupt supply routes, dismantle camps, and protect farming communities.

Highlighting recent successes, Idris pointed to the coordinated capture of two internationally wanted terrorists in 2025, including the head of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria. He noted that improved inter-agency collaboration made these arrests possible.

The move signals a "zero tolerance" approach to abductions and rural violence, granting security forces expanded powers to confront these threats under a counterterrorism framework.

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