By Sochima Agbo 

The Federal Government has formally designated kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, signalling a tougher approach to tackling abductions, attacks on farmers and widespread insecurity across the country.

The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the Federal Government’s end-of-year media briefing.

Idris said the decision represents a major policy shift, as acts of mass kidnapping and rural violence will no longer be treated as routine criminal offences but addressed under Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework.

He stated that any person or group involved in kidnapping, attacking farming communities or instilling fear among citizens would henceforth be officially labelled and dealt with as terrorists.

“The period of vague descriptions is over. Anyone who terrorises Nigerians, whether acting individually or as part of a group, is a terrorist and will be treated as such,” the minister said.

According to him, the new designation will improve intelligence sharing and strengthen cooperation among security agencies, allowing for quicker and more coordinated responses to security threats.

Idris noted that enhanced inter-agency collaboration has already produced positive outcomes. He revealed that in 2025, joint security operations led to the arrest of two internationally wanted criminals.

Among those arrested, he said, was a top leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) who had been operating from within Nigeria. The suspect, described as one of Africa’s most wanted terrorists, reportedly had a significant bounty placed on him by the United States.

He also referenced the earlier capture of Abu Barra, stressing that both arrests were achieved through coordinated efforts involving security and intelligence agencies, under the supervision of the National Security Adviser.

The minister added that the suspects, including the ISWAP leader and his chief of staff, are currently facing trial and will be brought to justice.

As part of efforts to secure rural and forested areas, Idris announced the deployment of trained forest guards. He explained that the guards would use surveillance, local intelligence and rapid-response tactics to secure forests and remote areas often used as hideouts by criminal groups.

He said the initiative is expected to disrupt criminal operations, dismantle camps and reassure farming communities affected by insecurity.

By officially classifying kidnappers and bandits as terrorists, the Federal Government has underscored its zero-tolerance stance on abductions and rural violence, while expanding the scope of security operations to curb the threat nationwide.