FG Officially Declares Bandits As Terrorist

The Federal government of Nigeria has officially declared the bandit’s group causing havoc in the northern part of the country as terrorists.

Recall that several institutions, bodies and persons in the country have made several calls to the federal government to declare the bandit’s groups as terrorists so that they can be properly dealt with by security agencies in the country.

The declaration titled ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021 is contained in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.

The declaration reads in part “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.

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.”

This comes weeks after the Federal High Court in Abuja declared bandits as terrorists following an ex parte motion the Federal Government filed before it through the Ministry of Justice.

Nigerians however hoped that the declaration by the federal government will enable the government and the security agencies to combat them and make them pay for their misdeeds.