The Federal Government has formally gazetted the court order proscribing the activities of bandits the country and designating them “terrorists”.
This development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo in November, 2021 ruled that activities of bandits, as well as other similar groups, by whatever names they are called, in any part of the country, are acts of terrorism and thus declared them terrorists.
Justice Taiwo in his ruling also ordered the federal government to declare the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups as acts of terrorism.
A document released by Malami’s spokesman, Umar Gwandu, on Wednesday, disclosed that the federal government has officially proscribed the activities of bandits as acts of terrorism.
The document titled, ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021’ reads, “Notice is hereby given that by the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November, 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar group in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed, pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.
“Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution.”
Speaking on the development, President Muhammadu Buhari assured of his commitment to deal with criminals disturbing the peace of the country.
Meanwhile, speaking during an interview with Channels Television, President Muhammadu Buhari said the security agencies in the country have been given go ahead to deal with the criminals causing havoc in the country.
“So, I think the only language they understand – we have discussed it thoroughly with the law enforcement agencies; the security chiefs, the Inspector General of Police – is to go after them…
“We labelled them terrorists and we are going to deal with them as such,” Buhari said.
