‎The Federal Government has officially classified kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, signaling a major escalation in Nigeria’s response to abductions and rural attacks.

‎Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced the policy during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Monday.

‎“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,” Idris said.

‎The move allows security agencies to use full counterterrorism measures, strengthens intelligence sharing, and enables faster operational responses.

‎Idris noted that coordinated inter-agency operations in 2025 led to the capture of some of the most wanted criminals, including the ISWAP leader in Nigeria.

‎As part of the initiative, trained forest guards will be deployed to secure rural areas, forests, and remote locations often used as hideouts by criminal groups.

‎The government emphasised zero tolerance for abductions and rural violence, aiming to reassure affected communities and dismantle criminal networks.

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