Bandits in the country have now been Officially declared as Terrorists by the Federal Government after calls by a majority in recent times.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had over a month ago declared bandits as Terrorists following an ex parte motion the Federal Government filed before it through the Ministry of Justice in October.
The Federal Government has now published bandits as Terrorists in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, titled “Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021”
“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 groups 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″, a statement by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice’s media aide, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
“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.”
It added that the groups engaged in 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, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral states in Nigeria.