President Bola Tinubu has declared that bandits, violent cult groups, kidnappers, foreign-linked mercenaries, and other armed non-state actors will be classified as terrorists under a new security framework set to be implemented by his administration.
Speaking on Friday while presenting the 2026 fiscal year budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu emphasized that his government will target not only the perpetrators of crimes but also those who enable them.
“Under this new architecture, any armed group or gun-wielding non-state actors operating outside state authority will be regarded as terrorists,” the former Lagos State governor stated in Abuja.
He added, “Bandits, militias, armed gangs, armed robbers, violent cults, forest-based armed groups, and foreign-linked mercenaries will all be targeted. We will go after all those who perpetrate violence for political or sectarian ends, along with those who finance and facilitate their evil schemes.”
The president said the new doctrine will “fundamentally change how we confront terrorism and other violent crimes.”
Nigeria has witnessed a rise in crimes such as mass abductions and banditry in recent months.
Despite these challenges, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to peace and vowed that criminals would face strict consequences.
“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,” he said.
The president also promised continued investment in security, focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces and other security agencies.
“To secure our country, our priority will remain on increasing the fighting capability of our armed forces and other security agencies and boosting the effectiveness of our fighting forces with cutting-edge equipment and other hardware,” Tinubu stated.
Highlighting the seriousness of his commitment, the president proposed ₦5.41 trillion for security and defence out of a total ₦58.1 trillion 2026 budget, marking it as the largest sectoral allocation in the proposal.
