In a bold move to tackle insecurity, the Federal Government has officially classified kidnappers and bandits as terrorists.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during an end-of- the-year briefing. According to the minister, individuals and groups involved in widespread kidnappings, attacks on farmers, and other violent crimes will now be treated under Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework rather than as ordinary criminals.
Idris said that from now on, anyone who kidnaps people, attacks farmers, or spreads fear in communities will be treated as a terrorist. This is to make it clear how such crimes will be handled.
However, the government says this step will help security agencies work together better, share information more easily, and act faster against criminals. Also, they plan to send trained forest guards to protect rural areas where gangs often hide.
Officials said recent joint security operations that caught major criminals show that working together works. By calling kidnappers and bandits terrorists, the government is taking a stronger stand against crime to break up gangs and make communities feel safer.
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