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The Federal Government has officially designated kidnappers, bandits and violent armed groups operating in the country as terrorists. The action marks a strategic escalation in Nigeria’s response to abductions, attacks on farmers, and community violence. It also signals a shift from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as ordinary crimes and confronting them with counterterrorism measures.
The announcement on the change of policy was made by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the end-of-year press briefing in Abuja. Idris said; “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. Now, the era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or you are an individual, you are a terrorist and will be classified as such.”
According to the Minister, the policy would strengthen intelligence sharing and operational coordination across security agencies, allowing for faster and more decisive action. By classifying kidnappers as terrorists, the government has shown zero tolerance for abductions and rural violence, while expanding the powers of security forces.
The federal government’s response is a follow-up to the recent declaration of state of emergency on security by President Bola Tinubu and measures put in place to deal ruthlessly with the terrorists. The other day, the President charged the newly appointed service chiefs to intensify efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities across the country. Tinubu equally tasked them to dismantle the activities of emerging armed groups that have regrouped in some parts of the country.
Similarly, the Senate has taken courageous steps in prescribing death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping or other acts classified as terrorism. The move followed a bill which seeks to amend the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act by designating kidnapping and related offences as acts of terrorism and prescribing the death penalty for those found guilty, including financiers and informants. Under the proposal, once a court convicts one of kidnapping, the maximum penalty must be applied.
These are steps in the right direction and add to the 2021 pronouncement by the Federal Government which designated bandits as terrorists. The 2021 classification came after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja proscribed bandit groups in the country. A government gazette announcing the declaration was signed on November 29, 2021, some days after the court order. No doubt, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism have seriously affected Nigeria’s economy. They have also reduced the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.
Unfortunately, some states in the North-East, North-Central and North-West regions have witnessed intense security challenges in recent times by terrorists. A bomb blast inside a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, led to the death of five people during evening prayers before Christmas. Not less than 35 people were injured during the blast. Within two weeks in December, bandits launched attacks across the North, abducting monarchs, worshippers, a bride, students and travellers in coordinated wave of violence that resulted to least 490 captives. The raids which cut across Sokoto, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Borno and the Federal Capital Territory, disrupted rural communities and forced residents to flee their homes. In Abuja, seven mourners were kidnapped on November 28 at Gidan Bijimi in the Bwari Area Council. The same day in Niger State, 24 farm workers, including pregnant women, were abducted from Palaita village in Shiroro council. Earlier on November 18, 38 worshippers were abducted during a thanksgiving service in Eruku, Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, with three persons killed.
The situation cannot be allowed to continue. Now that kidnappers and bandits have been declared terrorists, they should no longer be treated with kid gloves. Let the government move against them and their sponsors squarely. This is the time to put an end to their activities. It is only the government that should have monopoly of the instrument of violence, especially in ensuring law and order. It is not enough for the federal government to declare kidnappers and bandits as terrorists. Relevant legislations and actions should be invoked against them.
Strategic measures and more effective actions to contain their menace, dismantle their cells in the country are needed. Government should equip the security agencies with adequate technology, drones and AI to combat terrorism in the country. Let there be gathering and sharing of intelligence among security agencies. They should no longer have excuses. They should take the war to the terrorists in the bush or wherever they may be. Now, the rules of engagements are clearly spelt out. This is the time to deploy high precision weapons to decimate and subdue the terrorists.
