In a decisive move to redefine its security strategy, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a significant policy shift, declaring that all armed groups involved in banditry, kidnapping, and attacks on communities will now be officially designated and treated as terrorist organizations.
End of Ambiguous Labels for Criminal Elements
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the declaration on Monday, December 23, 2025, during an end-of-year press briefing in Abuja. Idris stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is putting an end to unclear labels that have previously clouded the nation's response to escalating insecurity.
"The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over!" Idris declared emphatically. He clarified that henceforth, any individual or group that kidnaps citizens, attacks farmers, or terrorizes communities will be classified and dealt with as a terrorist organization, without any form of semantic protection.
The minister stressed that the government would apply the full force of counter-terrorism laws against these elements, marking a clear departure from past approaches.
Concrete Actions and a Nationwide Security Emergency
Idris emphasized that this new stance is not merely rhetorical but is already being backed by concrete actions. As a key example, he cited the successful rescue of all students and teachers abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papri, Niger State. He confirmed that all 230 victims from that incident have been freed, with no one remaining in captivity.
In a related major development, the minister revealed that President Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency. This emergency measure is designed to significantly bolster Nigeria's capacity to confront criminal networks. The plan includes:
- Massive recruitment drives for the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force.
- The deployment of specially trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure vulnerable forest areas that have served as safe havens for criminals.
- Bringing vast, previously unmanned forest territories under constant surveillance and control.
New Counter-Terrorism Doctrine and High-Profile Arrests
Further solidifying the new approach, the government has established a new national counter-terrorism doctrine built on four critical pillars: unified command, intelligence-driven operations, community stability, and counterinsurgency.
Idris pointed to improved inter-agency coordination as a key achievement, highlighting the arrest of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander. The high-profile insurgent, Abu Bara, who had an international bounty on his head, was apprehended alongside his chief of staff and is currently facing prosecution.
The minister's message was unequivocal: anyone who terrorizes Nigerians will be treated strictly as a terrorist, without exception. He reaffirmed that national security is the foundational priority for economic recovery and long-term stability.
While welcoming public scrutiny, Idris cautioned against the politicization of security issues, urging critics to engage based on verifiable facts. He assured citizens of the administration's unwavering focus on creating a safer and more secure Nigeria.
