FG Finally Reveals Why Bandits Have Not Been Declared Terrorist

• Defence Minister, Gen. Bashir Magashi, has explained the reason why bandits have not been declared terrorists
• Speaking with newsmen, Magashi disclosed certain procedures would be followed before making such declaration
• The minister hinted further that the military is geared to bring an end to insurgency and terrorists activities in the country

Borno, Maidughuri- The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.) has said that the need to follow due process was responsible for the delay in declaring bandits as terrorists.

Magashi, made this disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday, October 29 in Maidughuri.

The minister maintained that there was a procedure that needed to be observed before such a declaration, The Punch reported.

He said:

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“We are not declaring them terrorists because there is a procedure for doing that. When the procedure is followed, they will be classified as terrorists. We are waiting for the procedure to be completed.”

The minister, who was in Maiduguri with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and Service Chiefs on an assessment visit of the fight against insurgency in the Northeast, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far, PM News also reported.

He said his team met with the Theatre Commander and other component commanders to deliberate on the next phase of operations, adding that the meeting also identified problems that required urgent attention to enhance the operations.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the theatre commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa, has said that the Nigerian military will not allow the Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP), a foreign terrorist group, to have a strong footing in Nigeria.

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It was reported that Musa made this statement while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, September 22, in Maiduguri.

He said that ISWAP was a foreign terrorist organisation being sponsored by foreigners with some local collaborations, adding that the terrorists that were refusing to surrender belonged to ISWAP.

The theatre commander stated further that the military had advised the governments also, on the need to adopt the system of involving the victims in dialogue on the handling of the surrendered terrorists.

Source: Legit.ng