The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's formal declaration of bandits and armed criminal gangs as terrorists as a major and transformative change in Nigeria's approach to national security.
A Strategic and Legal Shift
Speaking at an end-of-year media interactive session in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, stated that this re-categorisation represents a deliberate policy and legal move by the President. He emphasized that this step paves the way for a more strategic, unified, and forceful response to the violent crises affecting the nation.
The session, themed “Strengthening trust, accuracy and partnership in counter terrorism reporting,” served as a platform to explain the significance of the decision. Laka clarified that both international and Nigerian laws define terrorism as acts of serious violence or threats committed with political, ideological, religious, or ethnic motives to intimidate a population or compel government action.
Bandits Meet the Definition of Terrorism
Laka pointed out that while groups like Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'adati wal-Jihad (JAS) and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) are overtly ideological, the actions of bandits have created identical terror. He reminded the audience that bandits were officially gazetted as terrorist groups following a Federal High Court order on 25th November 2021, cited in the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Order Notice 2021.
"For bandits, armed criminal gangs, and cult groups who undertake kidnapping for ransom, murder, robbery, and extortion, the effects of their actions have become indistinguishable from terrorism," Laka asserted. He posed a rhetorical question: "What is the primary objective of kidnapping hundreds of school children or attacking villages, if not to instil terror in communities, to extract ransom and concessions?"
He detailed the consequences: widespread terror, mass displacement, shutdown of schools and farms, and severe psychological trauma. Furthermore, their actions aim to control territories, establish parallel tax systems, and ultimately undermine state authority, directly challenging its legitimacy.
Convergence of Threats and Media Partnership
Laka highlighted the dangerous convergence of motives and increasing alliances between bandits and insurgent groups, noting they share weapons and engage in tactical cooperation. As these threats evolve, he stated that countering them requires efficient strategic communication, public awareness, and national cohesion.
He specifically addressed the media's role, calling them a vital ally. "Your reporting has helped shape public understanding of complex security realities," Laka said, appreciating their professionalism. However, he appealed for responsibility in handling sensitive security information, cautioning that premature disclosure can compromise operations and endanger lives.
"Our appeal is not for silence, but for responsibility," he concluded, stressing that national security and press freedom are not opposing forces but must be balanced in the public interest.
