The Federal Government has called on Nigerians, the media, civil society and security agencies to close ranks against terrorism, with a launch of a national call to action under the banner #UniteAgainstTerror.
Nigeria is currently grappling with a fresh wave of school abductions and persistent insurgent activity across multiple regions.
Briefing the Press on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris framed the campaign as a non-negotiable national imperative, warning that the threat of violent extremism respects no ethnic, religious or political boundary.
“An attack against one Nigerian is an attack against all Nigerians,” Idris said. “Terrorism has no tribe, no religion, and no political affiliation. Its only purpose is destruction.”
The Minister, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, used the occasion to reassure Nigerians over the fate of schoolchildren and teachers recently abducted in separate attacks in Oyo and Borno States, saying their release remains President Bola Tinubu’s top priority.
According to him, security agencies have been placed on Heightened alert, with intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated rescue operations already underway under direct presidential instruction.
“No child belongs in captivity and that no effort will be spared in ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice,” Idris said, conveying the President’s position.
On a broader security front, the Minister pointed to recent operational gains, including the elimination of more than 50 terrorists in follow-up operations in Borno State under Operation Hadin Kai.
He said troops have also dismantled criminal camps, disrupted kidnapping networks and neutralised high-valued targets across the North-West, North-Central, South-East, and South-South regions.
Idris attributed the improving security picture to what he described as a “comprehensive strategy” combining military pressure, intelligence- led operations, technology, regional corporation, and community engagement- an approach he said is steadily eroding the operational capacity of the terrorists and criminal groups.
The government also highlighted judicial progress in its counter-terrorism efforts. Recent convictions were secured against perpetrators of the June 22 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in which scores of worshipers were killed.
Idris said hundreds of terrorism suspects are currently on trial in what he described as one of the largest terrorism prosecution exercises in the country’s history.
“Justice is an essential pillar of national security,” he said. The ongoing terrorism trials and recent convictions send a clear message that impunity will not prevail.”
The Minister spoke directly to the media, urging editorial caution in covering terrorist incidents. While affirming the press’ role in keeping citizens informed, he cautioned that irresponsible reporting risks amplifying the very objectives that terrorist groups seek to achieve through their attacks.
He also appealed to ordinary Nigerians to report credible security information to authorities and resist attempts to stoke communal division along ethnic, religious or political lines.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Binyerem C. Ukaire; the Inspector General Of Police, represented by Force PRO, DCP Anthony Okon Placid; Director, Defence Information, Gen. Samaila Uba; Special Adviser to the President, Media & Public Communications, Sunday Dare; Senior Special Assistant Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz; Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Engagement, Mr Fredrick Nwabufo; Senior Special Assistant to the President Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman among other dignitaries.
