The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally classified kidnappers, bandits and other violent armed groups as terrorists, marking a major escalation in its efforts to tackle widespread insecurity across the country.
The announcement was made during the government’s end-of-year press briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Idris said the decision represents a clear departure from the previous approach of treating mass kidnappings, attacks on farming communities and other forms of rural violence as ordinary criminal acts.
Under the new classification, organised armed groups involved in abductions for ransom, terrorising communities and other violent crimes will now be prosecuted under Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework. This, he said, would allow security agencies to deploy stronger legal instruments and more robust operational responses.
According to the minister, the move is aimed at closing legal loopholes that had previously limited the effective use of counterterrorism measures against perpetrators of large-scale violence, particularly in the northern parts of the country and other affected regions.
“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,” Idris said.
Security analysts have described the policy shift as significant, noting that it could enable courts to impose stiffer penalties under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act and broaden military and intelligence operations against armed groups.
However, civil liberties advocates have cautioned that the expanded designation must be implemented with adequate safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure respect for due process.
The decision follows sustained calls by state governors, lawmakers and security experts for tougher legal tools to confront organised violence in rural and semi-urban areas, where bandit attacks have resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
The government said the measure aligns with ongoing efforts to reset Nigeria’s national security architecture and strengthen coordination among the military, police, intelligence agencies and local security structures.
