Ransom Facilitators, Negotiators, Over 20 Individuals, Groups Will be Treated as Terrorists Under New Security Doctrine - FG
By : Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that, in a move to curb the ongoing insecurity, kidnapping, and killing in the country, the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has announced in his newly released budget a sweeping new national security doctrine that redefined who would be treated as terrorists in Nigeria.
OTN News further reports that this publication, which was made available through the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) website, followed years of pressure from security experts, civil society organisations, and citizens demanding transparency in the country’s fight against terrorism.
According to the president, 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.”
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, however, said that the government’s priority remained on strengthening the armed forces and security agencies with personnel and modern hardware.
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