The Federal Government has announced new measures to tackle criminal groups terrorizing communities across the country.
The declaration was made on Monday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the End-of-Year Press Conference in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the government introduced a national counter-terrorism doctrine in 2025, designed to address security challenges more effectively. The framework rests on four pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.
He said, “Let me be clear about what this means: That henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, or terrorizes our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organization. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over!”
Idris also confirmed the release of all the schoolchildren abducted in Niger State, stating, “it can be confirmed that all the abducted pupils, numbering 230, have been freed.”
He added, “Not a single pupil is left in captivity due to the efforts of our security agencies.”
The Minister further sympathized with the families affected by the kidnappings, wishing them “a pleasant family reunion, a good healing process, Compliments of the Season and a Merry Christmas.”