No Mercy for Kidnappers: FG Officially Classifies Child Abductors, Farmer Attackers as Terrorists

By Tgnews Reporter 

In a bold escalation of Nigeria’s war against insecurity, the Federal Government has declared that any armed group or individual involved in kidnapping children, attacking farmers, or terrorizing communities will henceforth be officially classified and treated as terrorists.

The stern warning was issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such criminal acts.

“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 stated.

The announcement comes amid a surge in mass abductions and banditry, particularly in northern Nigeria, where schoolchildren, farmers, and rural dwellers have borne the brunt of relentless attacks.

Recent incidents, including the abduction of hundreds of students in Niger and Kebbi states, have heightened national outrage and prompted President Bola Tinubu to unveil a comprehensive new counterterrorism doctrine.

Under this doctrine, unveiled during the presentation of the 2026 budget, armed bandits, militias, kidnappers for ransom, extortionists, and their enablers—including political, traditional, or community leaders—are now explicitly designated as terrorists.

The policy expands the definition to include non-state actors wielding guns outside state authority, those pursuing violence for political, ethnic, financial, or sectarian gains, and foreign-linked mercenaries.

Idris’s declaration underscores the administration’s resolve to end the cycle of ransom payments and negotiated releases that have emboldened criminals. “We will show no mercy,” he affirmed, noting recent successes like the rescue of over 130 abducted students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, without ransom.

Human rights groups and civil society organizations have welcomed the tougher stance but called for safeguards to prevent abuses. Community leaders in affected regions, such as Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, express hope that the classification will deter attacks on farmers, who have faced mass killings while tending crops.

The Minister reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment: “National security is the foundation of development.” With unified command structures and advanced surveillance on the horizon, Nigerians await tangible results in the fight against terrorism in all its forms.