The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami has said that that Federal High Court’s declaration of bandits as terrorists would embolden the government to come down heavily on them in conformity with international standards on the rules of engagement with such elements.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, yesterday ruled that the activities of bandits, as well as other similar groups, by whatever names they are called, in any part of the country, amounted to acts of terrorism and subsequently declared them terrorists.
The judge directed the federal government to publish the order in the official gazette and two national dailies in the country.
The ruling was sequel to an application filed on behalf of the federal government by the director of public prosecution, federal ministry of justice, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, regarding the activities of Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and other groups of bandits in the country.
In the ex parte application, the federal government had prayed the court to outlaw the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist groups in the country.
The request, according to the federal government in a supporting affidavit, was to checkmate the activities of the group, which the government claimed were responsible for killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings, and other criminal acts in the North-east, North-central, and other parts of the country.
The federal government blamed the groups for “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 on to say 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 government further stated 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 government said in the supporting affidavit.
Abubakar said President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his action, which objective is the proscription of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other terrorist groups in the country.
Specifically, the court declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga Group” and the “Yan Ta’adda Group,” as well as other similar groups, in any part of the country, particularly in the North-west and North-central geopolitical zones, to be “acts of terrorism and illegality.”
The judge ruled that “similar groups, either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called, in any part of Nigeria, particularly in the North-west and North-central geopolitical zones” are terrorists and banned.”
Taiwo said in the light of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the people and the nation’s economy, he was convinced that such orders were required.
He extended the proscription order to all other groups in the country, regardless of their names, whose activities and goals are similar to those of the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups.
According to the ruling, terror activities “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.”
Reacting to the ruling, Malami said the government would now deal ruthlessly with all terrorists groups and their sponsors with a view to bringing a lasting solution to the nation’s security challenges.
“The development is a pointer to the commitment of the Federal Government to adhere to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, separatists organisations, insurgency and banditry in the country,” he said in a statement through his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu.
Malami said his office “in collaboration with relevant government agencies, including security operatives, are working assiduously to do the needful to take full advantage of this declaration” adding that “government will gazette, publish and publicise the proscription order in due course.”
However, controversial Islamic cleric, Mr. Ahmad Gumi, dismissed the declaration as political saying “it will not change anything; it will not change the dynamics” and “will not end their aggression against the society.”
He said the court’s decision, would change nothing, the same way government’s previous declaration of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has not stopped the separatist organisation from its activities.
“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 were being fought and treated as terrorists.
“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 recognize FG’s declaration of 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 license 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 kidnapping and killing. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.
“The Fulani banditry is a socio-economic problem. We have seen it, we interacted widely with them. We told 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 has 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 Fulanis had 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 sense of belonging,” Gumi said in a statement issued by his media consultant, Mr. Tukur Mamu.
