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 government was investing in security with “clear accountability for outcomes” and emphasised that spending must deliver results
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 counter-insurgency.
He said the new approach would fundamentally change how Nigeria confronted terrorism and violent crimes.
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 extended the definition to include those who enable terrorism. He said 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
Comprehensive list of declared terrorists
The directive covered:
1. Armed groups outside state authority
2. Individuals wielding lethal weapons without authorisation
3. Bandits
4. Militias
5. Armed gangs
6. Criminal networks with weapons
7. Armed robbers
8. Violent cult groups
9. Forest-based armed collectives
10. Foreign-linked mercenaries
11. Political violence actors
12. Ethnic violence actors
13. Financial violence actors
14. Sectarian violence actors
15. Kidnappers
16. Extortionists
17. Financiers of armed groups
18. Money handlers
19. Harbourers
20. Informants
21. Ransom facilitators
22. Ransom negotiators
23. Political protectors
24. Political intermediaries
25. Transporters of fighters or weapons
26. Arms suppliers
27. Safe house owners
28. Politicians who encourage violence
29. Traditional rulers who enable terror
30. Community leaders who facilitate violence
31. 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.
