Idris declares end to ambiguous labels in Nigeria’s security response
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that the Federal Government has ended what it describes as the era of “ambiguous nomenclature” in Nigeria’s security response, stressing that any individual or group that kidnaps, attacks communities or terrorises citizens will henceforth be classified and treated as a terrorist organisation.
Speaking at his end-of-year press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Idris said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would no longer tolerate insecurity under any guise, warning that all criminal elements would be decisively dealt with as terrorists.
“Let me be clear about what this means: 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,” Idris said.
“Any individual or any group. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or an individual, you are a terrorist and you will be classified as such.”
Idris said the new stance reflects a decisive shift in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism architecture, backed by concrete actions already taken by the Federal Government in 2025.
He cited the recent rescue of all abducted students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School, Paikoro, Niger State, as evidence of the government’s resolve, noting that all 230 victims have now been freed.
“The remaining abducted schoolchildren and their teachers have been rescued and handed over to the Niger State Government. This brings the total number of rescued victims to 230. No one is left in captivity from that incident,” he said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a clear charge to the security agencies to ensure that this does not happen again, and where it unfortunately happens, there will be full disclosure and a swift response.”
The minister said the President has also declared a nationwide security emergency, which will translate into massive recruitment into the armed forces and police, as well as the deployment of trained forest guards to eliminate criminal hideouts.
“What we used to have were dark, unmanned forest areas that became safe havens for terrorists and criminals,” Idris said.
“With this declaration and recruitment drive, there will be no hiding place for criminals and terrorists in our forests.”
According to him, Nigeria has also adopted a new national counter-terrorism doctrine anchored on four pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability and counter-insurgency.
He further pointed to the capture of two of Africa’s most wanted terror figures, including a senior ISWAP leader, as proof of improved coordination among security and intelligence agencies.
“Two of the most internationally wanted criminals were captured through coordinated action by our security forces,” he said.
“Abu Bara, who had a bounty placed on his head, has been arrested alongside his chief of staff and is currently facing justice.”
Idris stressed that the government’s message is unambiguous.
“If you terrorise Nigerians, you are a terrorist. There is no hiding under any name again,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that security remains the foundation for economic recovery, public trust and national stability.
“President Tinubu is putting renewed focus on the security of lives and property, and his promise is that Nigeria will witness a far more secure country,” Idris said.
He concluded by insisting that the government welcomes scrutiny but warned against politicising security matters.
“If you want to counter us, counter us on facts, not emotions,” he said.
“Nigeria is on the rise.”
Boluwatife Enome
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that the Federal Government has ended what it describes as the era of “ambiguous nomenclature” in Nigeria’s security response, stressing that any individual or group that kidnaps, attacks communities or terrorises citizens will henceforth be classified and treated as a terrorist organisation.
Speaking at his end-of-year press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Idris said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would no longer tolerate insecurity under any guise, warning that all criminal elements would be decisively dealt with as terrorists.
“Let me be clear about what this means: 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,” Idris said.
“Any individual or any group. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or an individual, you are a terrorist and you will be classified as such.”
Idris said the new stance reflects a decisive shift in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism architecture, backed by concrete actions already taken by the Federal Government in 2025.
He cited the recent rescue of all abducted students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School, Paikoro, Niger State, as evidence of the government’s resolve, noting that all 230 victims have now been freed.
“The remaining abducted schoolchildren and their teachers have been rescued and handed over to the Niger State Government. This brings the total number of rescued victims to 230. No one is left in captivity from that incident,” he said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a clear charge to the security agencies to ensure that this does not happen again, and where it unfortunately happens, there will be full disclosure and a swift response.”
The minister said the President has also declared a nationwide security emergency, which will translate into massive recruitment into the armed forces and police, as well as the deployment of trained forest guards to eliminate criminal hideouts.
“What we used to have were dark, unmanned forest areas that became safe havens for terrorists and criminals,” Idris said.
“With this declaration and recruitment drive, there will be no hiding place for criminals and terrorists in our forests.”
According to him, Nigeria has also adopted a new national counter-terrorism doctrine anchored on four pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability and counter-insurgency.
He further pointed to the capture of two of Africa’s most wanted terror figures, including a senior ISWAP leader, as proof of improved coordination among security and intelligence agencies.
“Two of the most internationally wanted criminals were captured through coordinated action by our security forces,” he said.
“Abu Bara, who had a bounty placed on his head, has been arrested alongside his chief of staff and is currently facing justice.”
Idris stressed that the government’s message is unambiguous.
“If you terrorise Nigerians, you are a terrorist. There is no hiding under any name again,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that security remains the foundation for economic recovery, public trust and national stability.
“President Tinubu is putting renewed focus on the security of lives and property, and his promise is that Nigeria will witness a far more secure country,” Idris said.
He concluded by insisting that the government welcomes scrutiny but warned against politicising security matters.
“If you want to counter us, counter us on facts, not emotions,” he said.
“Nigeria is on the rise.”
Boluwatife Enome
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