“Call Them Ordinary Criminals?” — Outrage Trails Defence Headquarters’ Response to Governor Makinde Over Oyo School Kidnap
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis has once again sparked heated national debate after the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disagreed with the description of the kidnappers of schoolchildren in Oyo State as “terrorists.”
The controversy followed comments by the Governor of Seyi Makinde after the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, an incident that triggered widespread fear across the South-West region and renewed concerns over the spread of violent criminal networks beyond Northern Nigeria.
Reacting to the incident, the Defence Headquarters reportedly faulted the governor’s use of the word “terrorists” to describe the abductors. According to military authorities, the attack should instead be classified as an isolated criminal act rather than evidence of an established terrorist presence in the South-West.
The military also maintained that security operations had previously dismantled criminal hideouts around the Old Oyo National Park axis, an area that has repeatedly been linked to kidnappings, bandit activities, and illegal camps over the years.
However, the DHQ’s position has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, many of whom argue that the distinction between “terrorists,” “bandits,” and “ordinary criminals” no longer reflects the brutal realities citizens face daily.
For many observers, the central concern is not merely the label attached to violent groups, but the horrifying nature of their actions. Across several parts of Nigeria, armed gangs have been accused of mass killings, village raids, kidnappings for ransom, attacks on schools, destruction of farmlands, and gruesome executions of innocent citizens.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that kidnapping networks in Nigeria have evolved into sophisticated criminal enterprises with access to weapons, intelligence, and organized operational structures. What began years ago as isolated abductions for ransom has now transformed into a major national security threat affecting highways, schools, rural communities, and even urban outskirts.
The abduction of students has become particularly sensitive because of Nigeria’s painful history with school kidnappings. Since the infamous 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram, several schools across the country have faced similar attacks, especially in northern states such as Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Niger.
Although the South-West has historically experienced lower levels of mass abductions compared to the North-West and North-East, recent security incidents have intensified fears that criminal networks are expanding into new territories.
The Old Oyo National Park corridor has frequently appeared in security discussions due to its vast forest reserves stretching across parts of Oyo, Kwara, and neighboring states. In recent years, residents and local leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about kidnappers and armed groups allegedly operating within remote forest areas.
Despite assurances from security agencies, many Nigerians continue to express frustration over recurring attacks and the seeming inability of authorities to completely eliminate violent criminal cells.
Critics argue that whether such attackers are called terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, or ordinary criminals, the consequences for victims remain devastating. Families are displaced, children are traumatized, businesses suffer, and communities live in constant fear.
The debate also reflects a larger national conversation about insecurity and public trust in government institutions. Nigerians increasingly demand stronger intelligence gathering, improved policing, modern surveillance systems, and more coordinated security operations across federal and state agencies.
In recent months, governors across different regions have intensified calls for state policing and localized security structures to better tackle emerging threats. Supporters of this approach believe local authorities often possess better understanding of the terrain and community networks than centralized security institutions.
Meanwhile, citizens continue to hope for decisive actions capable of restoring confidence in public safety, especially within schools and rural communities.
As reactions continue to trail the Defence Headquarters’ statement, one issue remains clear: Nigerians are less concerned about terminology and more concerned about ending the cycle of violence, abductions, and fear spreading across the country.
For many citizens, the painful question remains unavoidable — if innocent schoolchildren can still be kidnapped despite repeated security assurances, then what exactly separates “ordinary criminals” from terrorists in today’s Nigeria?
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