FG Lists 31 Individuals and Groups Who Will Be Treated As Terrorists Under New Security Doctrine
- Nigeria’s security landscape entered a new phase as President Bola Tinubu unveiled a major counterterrorism doctrine
- The directive classified certain armed groups, kidnappers, extortionists, and even their enablers as terrorists under state law
- Political, traditional, and religious leaders found complicit in violent actions were also named in the FG's comprehensive list
In his recent budget speech, President Bola Tinubu announced a sweeping new national security doctrine that redefined who would be treated as terrorists in Nigeria.
He explained that the federal government was investing in security with 'clear accountability for outcomes' and emphasised that spending must deliver results.
Source: Twitter
The President stated that the administration was resetting the national security architecture and introducing a counterterrorism doctrine anchored on unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.
He said the new approach would fundamentally change how Nigeria confronted terrorism and violent crimes.
Armed groups classified as terrorists in Nigeria
According to a summarisation of his presentation, shared in a post on X, President Tinubu declared that any armed group or gun-wielding non-state actors operating outside state authority would henceforth be regarded as terrorists.
He added that individuals or groups using violence for political, ethnic, financial, or sectarian objectives would also be classified as terrorists.
The President stressed that kidnappers of civilians and groups extorting communities would be treated as terrorists.
He further noted that any group or individual occupying or attempting to occupy Nigerian territory by force would fall under the same classification.
President Tinubu lists 'those who enable terrorism'
President Tinubu extended the definition to include those who enable terrorism, stating that financiers, money handlers, harbourers, informants, ransom facilitators, and negotiators would all be treated as terrorists.
Political protectors, intermediaries, transporters of fighters or weapons, arms suppliers, and safe house owners were also named.
He warned that politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders, and religious leaders who facilitate or encourage violent actions would be declared terrorists.
“Henceforth, and under this new architecture, any armed group or gun-wielding non-state actors operating outside state authority will be regarded as terrorists. These include bandits, militias, armed gangs, criminal networks with weapons, armed robbers, violent cult groups, forest-based armed collectives, and foreign-linked mercenaries. Groups or individuals conducting violence for political, ethnic, financial, or sectarian objectives are also classified as terrorists.”
Comprehensive list of declared terrorists in Nigeria
The directive covered:
- Armed groups outside state authority
- Individuals wielding lethal weapons without authorisation
- Bandits
- Militias
- Armed gangs
- Criminal networks with weapons
- Armed robbers
- Violent cult groups
- Forest-based armed collectives
- Foreign-linked mercenaries
- Political violence actors
- Ethnic violence actors
- Financial violence actors
- Sectarian violence actors
- Kidnappers
- Extortionists
- Financiers of armed groups
- Money handlers
- Harbourers
- Informants
- Ransom facilitators
- Ransom negotiators
- Political protectors
- Political intermediaries
- Transporters of fighters or weapons
- Arms suppliers
- Safe house owners
- Politicians who encourage violence
- Traditional rulers who enable terror
- Community leaders who facilitate violence
- Religious leaders who justify terror
The President concluded that the new doctrine was designed to protect Nigeria’s corporate survival and reduce public anxiety.
He said the government’s priority remained on strengthening the armed forces and security agencies with personnel and modern hardware.
See the X post below:
Source: Twitter
FG's list of 21 terrorism financiers
Legit.ng also previously reported that in 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria had released a list of 21 individuals and six Bureau de Change entities designated as financiers of terrorism.
This was published on the Nigeria Sanctions Committee website after years of pressure from security experts, civil society organisations, and citizens demanding transparency in the fight for safety.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
