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FG declares bandits’ groups terrorists organisations

bandits, FirstNews

*As Court proscribes their existence, activities

*Declaration of bandits as terrorists won’t change anything, says Gumi

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA

The Federal Government has finally declared bandits otherwise known as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups operating in the North West and North Central Zones of Nigeria as terrorists groups and proscribed their existence and activities.

A Federal High Court judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo sitting in Abuja on Friday, approved the request of the Federal Government after listening to Aminu Kayode Alilu, an assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The judge also proscribed the groups and any other similar groups “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called,” operating in the country with similar aims and objectives. He said they should be regarded and as terrorist organisations.

The court further prohibited any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the proscribed Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group under any other name or platform, however, called or described.

Justice Taiwo in his pronouncements listed terror activities to “include, but not limited to banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”

The court further ordered the federal government to publish the proscription order in the Official Gazette and two national dailies.

Federal government lawyer, Aminu Kayode Alilu from the Federal Ministry of Justice, had told the court that the nefarious activities of the bandits had adversely affected the people and nation’s economy.

According to him, security reports have confirmed that bandit groups were responsible for killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings, and other criminal acts in the Northeast, North central, and other parts of the country.

He said that proscribing the groups will curtail their unlawful activities and give law enforcement agencies the latitude to bring the deteriorating insecurity situation in the North West and North Central Zones under control and normalcy.

The Federal Government’s request which came in an ex-parte application was filed by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had given his approval for his action, which has the goal of outlawing the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist groups in the country.

In its supporting affidavit, the Federal Government blamed the groups for an increase in “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, and other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters, and wanton destruction of lives and proper property.”

It went further to state that the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other similar groups, were responsible for the deaths of soldiers, police officers, and other security agents across the country.

The Federal Government also said that commercial, educational, and farming activities in the North West and North Central have been disrupted as a result of the groups’ activities.

“The activities of the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other similar groups, constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety, as well as a threat to Nigeria’s national security and corporate existence,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said that declaring bandits as terrorists is just a decision taken for political expediency.

He said: “I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country.

“It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists.”

In a statement issued by Malam Tukur Mamu, the Dan-Iyan Fika and Media Consultant to Sheikh Gumi, the Muslim scholar said: “So it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground.

“If you can remember, IPOB was also declared a terrorist organisation. The declaration was even backed by the order of the Court, but as you can see even the international community did not recognise FG’s declaration on IPOB.

“So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.

“They have not been banned from travelling to other countries, while their citizenship remains intact; it has not been denounced. “So what type of declaration is that?

“I sincerely hope that Nigerians will not take the herdsmen as terrorists, but should regard the criminality of the few among them against innocent people as acts of terrorism just as we see IPOB and their attacks on security agencies and other northern citizens as acts of terrorism.

“Very few herdsmen are bandits if you go through their population.

“I hope this declaration will not give the licence to people to be profiling herdsmen in general as terrorists and taking laws into their hands against them.

“It will cause more mayhem. The declaration will not change anything, it will not change the dynamics. Already the military is engaging them.

“It didn’t stop them from kidnappings and killings. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.

‘It is a socio-political problem’

“The Fulani banditry is a socio-economic problem. We have seen it, we interacted widely with them.

“We told the federal government the way out. It can only be won through engagement, dialogue and justice.

“That is why today there is relative peace in the Niger Delta because government have accepted the painful reality of rehabilitating and empowering them.

“There has to be equitable distribution of wealth in Nigeria and justice for everyone.

“People don’t want to accept it. Before the issue of banditry that now affects all of us, the Fulani have suffered so much.

“They have lost their legitimate means of livelihood; I mean their cows through cattle rustling and extortion by security agencies.

“That has to be addressed as a means of genuine reconciliation and integration. They should have a sense of belonging,” Gumi said.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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