By DAYO ADESULU
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally designated bandits and other armed non-state actors as terrorists, signaling a major shift in Nigeria’s security policy and a tougher national response to violent crimes that have plagued communities across the country.
The declaration, made on Friday during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, marks one of the strongest security positions yet taken by the Tinubu administration. It also reflects growing concern at the highest levels of government over the persistence of banditry, kidnapping, militancy, and armed violence nationwide.
A Turning Point in Nigeria’s Security Policy
Addressing lawmakers, Tinubu said his administration would no longer treat banditry, militancy, and similar crimes as isolated criminal acts. Instead, they will now fall squarely under the legal and operational framework of terrorism.
According to the president, this reclassification is designed to close loopholes that have allowed violent groups to exploit legal ambiguities and evade decisive state action.
“We will usher in a new era of criminal justice. We will show no mercy to those who commit or support acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other violent crimes,” Tinubu declared.
Under the new approach, all armed groups operating outside the authority of the Nigerian state will be regarded as terrorist threats to national stability.
Who the Terrorist Designation Covers
Tinubu was explicit about the scope of the designation. He said it applies broadly to a wide range of violent actors, including:
Bandits and kidnapping syndicates
Armed militias and violent cult groups
Forest-based criminal gangs
Armed robbers operating in organised networks
Foreign-linked mercenaries and proxy fighters
According to the president, none of these groups will any longer be treated as ordinary criminals.
“Any armed group or gun-wielding non-state actors operating outside state authority will be regarded as terrorists,” Tinubu said.
He added that the government would also target those who finance, facilitate, or provide logistical support to violent groups, whether for political, economic, or sectarian reasons.
New Counterterrorism Doctrine Takes Shape
Central to the president’s announcement is a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture. Tinubu revealed that his administration is restructuring the entire system around a new national counterterrorism doctrine.
This doctrine, he explained, is built on unified command, stronger intelligence coordination, community stability, and more effective counter-insurgency operations.
> “Our administration is resetting the national security architecture and establishing a new national counterterrorism doctrine — a holistic redesign anchored on unified command, intelligence gathering, community stability, and counter-insurgency,” he said.
According to Tinubu, this redesign is intended to eliminate inter-agency rivalry, improve response time, and ensure that security agencies operate with shared intelligence and clear accountability.
Security Spending Tied to Measurable Results
Beyond policy declarations, the president also addressed concerns about the effectiveness of security spending. He said increased allocations to defence and internal security in the 2026 budget would be tied to concrete, measurable outcomes.
“We will invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes — because security spending must deliver results,” Tinubu stated.
He stressed that the priority would remain on boosting the fighting capability of the armed forces and other security agencies through modern equipment, advanced technology, and improved logistics.
Senate Resolutions Add Legislative Backing
Tinubu’s declaration comes against the backdrop of escalating legislative action on insecurity. On November 26, the Senate adopted far-reaching security resolutions that officially designated kidnapping and banditry as acts of terrorism.
In one of its strongest positions in recent years, the upper chamber approved the maximum death penalty for all kidnapping-related offences, with no option of fine. The resolution followed intense debate during plenary, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after a motion raised by Senator Ashiru Oyelola Yisa and amended by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Lawmakers also directed the immediate introduction of a formal amendment bill to Nigeria’s anti-terrorism laws to reflect the new stance.
Expanded Security Measures Nationwide
Beyond legal reclassification, the Senate approved the creation of a new Joint Task Force (JTF) to strengthen security along the volatile Kwara–Kogi corridor. Forward Operating Bases are to be established in Eruku, Babanla, Oke-Ero, Isanlu, and Wasagu in Kebbi State.
The lawmakers further urged the Federal Government to reinforce local vigilante groups and review Nigeria’s firearm laws in line with global practices, arguing that responsible citizen participation could strengthen local security.
A particularly sensitive resolution ordered a full investigation into the withdrawal of troops from a school in Kebbi State shortly before a bandit attack. Senate security committees were mandated to probe the incident, as well as other controversial security decisions, and report back within two weeks.
A Clear Signal to Violent Groups
Taken together, Tinubu’s declaration and the Senate’s resolutions signal a decisive hardening of Nigeria’s posture against armed violence. By classifying bandits as terrorists, the government is positioning itself to deploy broader legal, military, and intelligence tools against criminal networks that have terrorised communities for years.
As the country heads into 2026, the administration appears determined to demonstrate that insecurity will no longer be met with half-measures — and that violent groups, regardless of label, will face the full weight of the Nigerian state.
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