Nigeria's president labels bandits and kidnappers terrorists, launching a major security crackdown.

President Bola Tinubu has declared bandits, armed gangs, violent cults, kidnappers, and other non-state actors as terrorists, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s security strategy. Speaking during the 2026 budget presentation, he announced a unified counterterrorism approach targeting both perpetrators and their enablers, with a proposed ₦5.41 trillion security budget. The move, backed by a Senate resolution calling for the death penalty for such crimes, aims to enhance intelligence, strengthen military capabilities, and empower community-led security initiatives amid rising abductions and attacks.