The Federal Government has officially classified kidnappers and violent armed groups operating across Nigeria as terrorists, marking a significant escalation in the countrys response to widespread abductions, attacks on farmers and persistent community violence.The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the Federal Governments end-of-year press briefing in Abuja on Monday, December 22.Idris said the new designation represents a clear shift from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as ordinary criminal acts, stressing that such groups will now be confronted using full counterterrorism measures. 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, the minister said.According to him, the decision ends years of what he described as vague or unclear labels for violent groups operating across the country. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether as a group or an individual, you are a terrorist and will be classified as such. There is no name to hide under anymore, Idris added.He explained that the policy would strengthen intelligence sharing and improve coordination among security agencies, allowing for faster and more decisive action against perpetrators of violence.The minister also addressed Nigerias recent diplomatic tensions with the United States following comments by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened military intervention over allegations of killings of Christians in Nigeria.Idris said the disagreement had been largely resolved through diplomatic engagement.The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been largely resolved through firm and respectful engagement, culminating in a strengthened partnership between America and Nigeria, he said.US President Trump had, in October and November, claimed that Nigerian Christians faced an existential threat and described the situation as genocide amid the countrys ongoing security challenges.Nigeria remains on the United States list of countries of particular concern over alleged violations of religious freedom.Nigeria was also among several countries affected by new visa and immigration restrictions announced last week by the Trump administration.The post FG officially designates k!dnappers, b@ndits as t3rrorists appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
0 Comments