FROM ‘BANDITS’ TO ‘TERRORISTS’: ARMY REBRANDS VIOLENCE DAYS AFTER U.S. CENSURE

By Ademola Adekusibe
November 1, 2025.

Barely 48 hours after the United States redesignated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians and failure to tackle extremist violence, the Nigerian Army has noticeably shifted tone in its latest security report, referring to armed groups once described as bandits as terrorists.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Army said its troops had intensified operations across multiple theatres of conflict, neutralizing terrorists, rescuing kidnapped victims, and uncovering illegal oil refining sites in several regions.

The military said that within the last 48 hours, troops neutralized two insurgents, rescued 17 kidnapped victims, and arrested 20 suspects across the North East, North West, North Central, and South-South zones.

In the North East, troops of 192 Battalion, operating alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), reportedly engaged fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah (JAS) in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing two. The Army also confirmed that three terrorists identified as Fannami Ari (also known as Abu Dujana), Hussaini Hassan Modu (also known as Abu Yusuf), and one unnamed trainee surrendered in Kukawa and Damboa.

In the North West, troops of 1 Brigade foiled two coordinated kidnap attempts in Zamfara State, rescuing 11 victims along the Magami–Jan Gemi and Kucheri–Bilbis axes.

Similarly, troops under Operations Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke conducted clearance raids across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, arresting 15 suspects linked to kidnapping, cultism, cattle rustling, and communal clashes. Four victims were also rescued in Plateau and Taraba States.

In the South-South, troops dismantled illegal refining sites in Bayelsa and intercepted over 3,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Imo State.

The statement, signed by the Army Directorate of Public Relations, emphasized that these sustained operations underscore the Nigerian Army’s unflinching resolve under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to dismantle terrorist networks and restore enduring peace across the nation.

The new choice of language, particularly the repeated use of “terrorists” instead of “bandits,” marks a striking shift from the Army’s long-standing terminology, coming just days after Washington’s strong rebuke of Nigeria’s handling of extremist violence.