Federal Government Declares Kidnappers As Terrorists

The Federal Government has declared that all individuals or groups involved in kidnapping, attacks on farmers, and assaults on communities will henceforth be officially classified and treated as terrorists.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this declaration on Monday during the End-of-Year media briefing in Abuja.

Idris said President Bola Tinubu has approved a decisive shift in the government’s approach to internal security, warning that no armed group or individual would be allowed to hide under ambiguous labels.

“Henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, that attacks our farmers, that terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organisation. Any individual or any group. This is the declaration that Mr. President has made,” Idris said.

The minister stressed that the era of vague descriptions for criminal elements was over, noting that anyone who instils fear or violence among citizens would now face the full weight of the law 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. There is no any name hiding under this again,” he added.

Idris also highlighted recent security successes recorded through coordinated efforts among Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies, including the arrest of a top Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader operating within the country.

“The most internationally wanted criminals, the ISWAP head residing in Nigeria, has been captured through the coordination of all the security agencies and those also in the intelligence community,” he said.

He recalled that Abu Barra, another high-profile terrorist, had been apprehended months earlier and presented to the public by the National Security Adviser and other security chiefs.

“This is one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent, and he was captured through the coordination of our security forces. Remember also that this was someone who had a large sum of money placed on his head by even the Americans to capture him and bring him to justice,” Idris stated.

The minister disclosed that the suspect, alongside his chief of staff, are currently facing trial.

“As we speak today, this gentleman, together with his chief of staff, are undergoing their day in court and they are going to get justice that befits them,” he said.