Bandits or terrorists? The role of the media and Nigerian government

BY AJIBOYE AMOS OLAKUNLE

In a country battling widespread insecurity like Nigeria, clarity is not merely desirable; it is essential. The media, as the watchdog of society and the conveyor of truth, carries an immense responsibility to describe threats accurately and hold power to account without fear or compromise. Today, a dangerous ambiguity persists in the way violent groups are described. The persistent use of the word “bandits” to describe groups whose operations are clearly terroristic in nature is not just a linguistic oversight; it is a national security failure. The Nigerian media must immediately and consistently differentiate between bandits and terrorists because words shape perception, and perception shapes response.

To understand the gravity of this distinction, it is necessary to examine what differentiates the two. Bandits are essentially criminals motivated by economic gain. They rob, kidnap, extort, and attack primarily for ransom or other material benefits. Their structure is often fluid, and their operations are rooted in opportunistic crime. Terrorists, on the other hand, operate with ideological, political, or religious motivations. Their actions aim to destabilise the state, instil fear, seize territory, and break national unity. Terrorism is systematic, calculated, and designed to create chaos at a national scale.

When the violence in Nigeria is viewed through this lens, it becomes obvious that the label of “banditry” is a gross understatement of reality. The mass abductions of schoolchildren in Chibok, Kankara, Dapchi, and Kuriga were not mere crimes of opportunity. They were well-planned operations involving logistics, manpower, surveillance, and military-level coordination. The systematic attacks on communities in Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Plateau, where hundreds have been massacred, villages razed, and territories occupied, far exceed the capacity or intention of common bandits. These groups set up parallel administrations, impose taxes, spread ideological propaganda, and move with the precision of organised militias. To continue calling them “bandits” is to mask the true scale of the threat and, inadvertently, to protect them from the full legal and moral condemnation they deserve.

This is why the media must rise to its responsibility as the custodian of national truth. Journalists in Nigeria are not mere narrators; they are the nation’s conscience. Insecurity thrives when reporting becomes diluted or compromised. The media must commit to thorough fact-checking and deep investigation before publishing reports. Instead of adopting sanitised terminology handed down for political convenience, journalists should report events as they are, without euphemisms. In a society where official statements sometimes fall short of full transparency, the media serves as the only reliable avenue for citizens to understand the true state of their nation. Mislabeling terrorists as bandits not only misleads the public; it undermines the urgency required for decisive national action.

Equally troubling are the individuals and groups who deliberately shield, justify, or protect these terrorists. They come in the form of politicians, community leaders, clerics, and influencers who attempt to excuse or downplay acts of terror in the name of ethnicity, economic reasons, or political advantage. Such individuals are enemies of the Nigerian state. In many countries, shielding terrorists is treated as an act of treason, attracting swift and uncompromising consequences. Those who protect violent extremists in Nigeria are only fortunate because the government has not taken a firm stance against them. In other nations, the machinery of justice would have flushed them out long ago. No society can defeat terrorism while tolerating those who collaborate with or defend its perpetrators.

To truly confront this menace, Nigeria must adopt bold, innovative, and practical solutions. One of the most urgent steps the government must take is establishing a nationwide Forest Police Force. More than 80 percent of terror operations in Nigeria are rooted in forests, bushes, and ungoverned rural spaces. These vast territories provide terrorists with operational bases, hideouts, training grounds, and escape routes. Without reclaiming these spaces, security efforts will remain reactive and incomplete. A dedicated Forest Police Force would solve this problem by permanently occupying and securing these terrains.

This force should have its headquarters in each state capital, ensuring that every state maintains direct control and coordination over forest security. From these headquarters, operations would extend deeply into forest zones through strategic outposts and patrol routes. The force should be well-trained in forest warfare, intelligence gathering, and environmental navigation. It must be equipped with drones for aerial surveillance, GPS mapping for terrain monitoring, motion sensors to track movement, and communication systems that ensure uninterrupted reporting. Unlike conventional security forces restricted by urban-based operations, the Forest Police Force would live, operate, and dominate inside the forests.

Moreover, this force must work closely with local communities. Farmers, hunters, and rural dwellers possess invaluable knowledge about the terrain and can provide early warnings about suspicious activities. By integrating local intelligence with modern technology, the Forest Police Force would effectively dismantle the operational bases of terrorists. This initiative would cut off their hideouts, disrupt their logistics, prevent kidnappers from holding victims for long periods, suppress illegal mining routes, and restore security to rural communities that have long lived under terror.

For any of these measures to succeed, however, the Nigerian government must abandon political calculations and place national security above personal alliances. Effective governance cannot coexist with fear of offending powerful sponsors of violence. The government must confront terrorism decisively, even when the financiers are politically connected or influential. Every life lost weakens the legitimacy of those in power. If the ruling party hopes to earn the trust of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections, this is the opportunity to prove that governance matters more than politics. Nigerians are watching, and history is recording every action or inaction.

In conclusion, Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. The media must call terrorists by their real names. The government must stop political hesitations and embrace decisive governance. Those shielding terrorists must no longer be tolerated. And the establishment of a nationwide Forest Police Force is essential to eliminating the sanctuaries that allow terrorism to flourish. The future of the nation depends on acknowledging the truth, confronting it boldly, and acting with unwavering commitment. Only then can Nigeria reclaim its peace and secure its destiny.

Ajiboye Amos Olakunle can be contacted via [email protected]